From Al Dhafra road trips to Asian title nights: My 16 years as the voice of UAE football
The date of October 22, 2010, might not mean much to the vast majority of UAE football fans, but it was a significant one all the same – especially for me. It was on that date that the first English language commentary of the Pro League was broadcast. Al Jazira beat Al Wasl 3-1 at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Why is that date so important to me? Because I had the privilege of doing…
On October 22, 2010, the Pro League made its first English language commentary debut as Al Jazira defeated Al Wasl 3-1 at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This marked the beginning of my 16 years of commentating on the league. While family commitments will prevent me from doing so this season, I still cherish my time in the role.
The journey has been filled with memorable moments, such as witnessing Al Ain's Champions League victory in 2023/24 and Sharjah's triumph in the Champions League 2 the following season. These successes in Asian competition underscore the importance of consistency in coaching, as the frequent changes in managers have not yielded long-term success.
Despite these challenges, I remain proud of the progress made in the UAE's football scene, including the expanded coverage of the Pro League and the growing recognition of both domestic and international talent.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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