Sports opinion

Professional evaluation

Hussein Al-Shaibani

02 Feb 2021

I think that the professional system applied in some Gulf leagues and the commitment of the national federations to it by the AFC was wrong and hasty, as we had to walk step by step to create a professional player on correct foundations, especially since the transition from hobby to professionalism needs building Correctly and on sound foundations from the technical side of the player and the team, and from the administrative side of the player and the team, and in the end the player must live in a healthy and professional environment.

I do not want to dwell on the word professionalism because it always takes us away from reality.

Most of our players need to fully educate and change their mindset from hobby to professional.

The word professionalism means correct and complete application, and we have not reached this stage, and professional management begins and matures as it is in Europe and Japan, so it must start in the right form.

We in the Gulf countries did not start like this and the money was spent in a large way, which affected the maturity of this system, both on the level of players' salaries and setting the ceiling.

After years of applying professionalism in some Gulf countries, we started to see the negatives, and I think that the AFC lured local federations into the Champions League and created the professional system by virtue of attracting all Asian leagues to it.

The matter needs from the AFC to rebuild this system on correct and more accurate rules and to clearly interpret it to public opinion and national federations, especially with regard to the player's dedication to the profession of "professionalism".

The interpretation of professionalism is that football becomes the player's official job, earns a fixed salary, adheres to professional behavior, sets administrative controls for the player, and is fully committed and devoted to his football activity.

Most of our players need to fully educate and change their mentality from hobby to professionalism, and this step had to start from the young generations until the player reaches the stage of professionalism that is 100% ready to change his mindset and accept the requirements of professionalism and realize his interest.

We had to think about the issue of professionalism in terms of converting clubs into companies or an entity separate from government support so that there would be continuity and permanence in the own financial resources.

We call on the President of the General Sports Authority to put in place legislation and legal rules that regulate the work of sports, civil unions and the professional system, and a law for UAE sports because football professionalism has depleted billions of dirhams over the past 13 years.

And an assessment of the professionalism system and the extent to which the desired goals of the professionalism system are achieved, and because for each system there is an annual evaluation in all sports and non-sporting institutions.

The question is directed to those responsible for the professionalization system: Has the professionalism system been evaluated after 13 years of professionalism ?!

Our professionalism is like a book, its cover is 'professionalism' and its content is 'hobby'.

To read the previous articles of the writer please click on its name.