He stressed that the UAE extends a helping hand to all countries of the world

Al-Zarouni moves away from basketball after 28 years and devotes himself to the "Red Crescent"

Al Zarooni during one of the Emirati donation campaigns. ■ from the source

A member of the Board of Directors of the Basketball Association, Muhammad Abdullah Al-Hajj Al-Zarouni, decided to move away from the Basketball Association at the end of the current electoral cycle, after his 28-year career in the Federation, and to devote himself completely to humanitarian services through his position as director of the "Red Crescent" office in Dubai.

Al-Zarouni said to “Emirates Today”, “Allowing the young men to be able to fully devote themselves to my work in the Red Crescent, in light of the relentless efforts and the state’s constant keenness to provide a helping hand and its leadership in the international arena in providing humanitarian aid, was behind my decision. A final departure from the Basketball Association, after a 28-year career.

He explained: “The increasing tasks of the Red Crescent in light of the progress of the efforts of the UAE and its leadership in extending a hand and assistance to all countries of the world, require more time and effort, which may conflict with my duties in the Basketball Union, in the same way when accompanied the day before yesterday, in my presence General Union of the basket, then return as soon as it is finished to my workplace, and stay until midnight, especially as we are currently racing to deliver aid convoys to brotherly Lebanon, which has recently suffered the disaster of the Beirut port explosion. Adding: “I did a lot to the world of basketball and the federation, in which I worked for many years in several positions, whether first vice president, financial director, head of the national teams committee, and other positions, but the keenness to pump young blood to the Union in its next election cycle 2020-2024, which is considered a healthy matter for the game, and I am fully devoted to the tasks of the Red Crescent, prompted me to make the decision to stay away. ” And he went on to say: “I am proud of my long relationship that linked me to the basketball family, especially the president of the federation, Major General Ismail Al Gergawi, who gave a lot to the Arab and Emirati teams. However, the efforts of the federation locally were always collided with the lack of financial support provided by the authority, in addition to the weak budgets allocated by clubs to teams Basket, compared to that of football.

He concluded: "Despite my departure, I look forward to the return of the UAE basket to its glamor, and I believe, with my long experience, that the best solution for it lies in the return of school sports, as it represents a mine that ensures that clubs in the future give more basketball talents, which will positively affect our teams."

Mohammed Al Zarouni:

- "We are currently racing against time to deliver aid convoys to brotherly Lebanon."

- "I look forward to the return of the Emirates basket to its shine, and the solution is in school sports."

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