Al Ahli nominates candidates for four sports bodies

Al Ahli formally endorsed four of its distinguished members as candidates to head four sports bodies in the UAE at the forthcoming elections.

Ahmad Al Kamali, Executive Council Member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), will contest for a second consecutive term as president of the UAE Athletics Association (UAEAA) and Amer Ali is vying for another term as the president of the UAE Volleyball Association (UAEVA).

Ismail Al Gergawi is aiming to be continue his long association with the UAE Basketball Association while Nasser Abdul Razaq seeking re-election for the top post in the UAE Karate and Taekwondo Association.

"These are all past presidents and have experience of heading their respective sports in the UAE," Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, Chairman of Al Ahli Club said at press briefing on Thursday.

"We are not trying to market them but their success in the past is proof of the efforts they have put into the respective federations. We are here to stand behind them with all our support as we believe they can truly achieve a lot of things in their respective sports in the future as well.

"Every candidate will speak about his programme and convey to the public of their goals at a later date."

The current boards of directors to the various sports associations in the UAE have all completed their four-year terms and, as per regulations, the General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare (GAYSW) has urged all bodies to elect new boards of directors before the end of May.

"There are other contenders from other clubs as well and the elections will be a fair game. So whoever thinks he can come and get elected to any of these posts is welcome to do so if he is of the belief that he can contribute to the sport in the UAE," Al Naboodah added.

When asked what unfinished business, Amer Ali, President of the UAEVA, said: "Our main objective is to have the beach development centre in the world and successfully host the Asian Volleyball Championship in 2013."

"Our focus is to concentrate on producing a new generation of athletes. We have about 120 athletes between the ages of 14 and 16, including a good number of girls. Qualification to Olympics in Brazil is main target," said Al Kamali who added they had won 106 medals during a short span of three and half years.

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