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CEO promises more competitive UAE pro-league

According to Carlo Nohra, CEO, UFL, the new edition of the pro-league which is set to kick off on Thursday is going to more competitive and engrossing.

Speaking to the newsmen at the UFL premises in Dubai during a brief ceremony to launch the new UFL logo and website, Nohra said they are thinking big and they know very well the amount of challenges and difficulties which they will be facing.

“I admit that our start was not as perfect as it should be. We made mistakes, and mistakes are part of the game,” he said. Meanwhile, the UAE clubs have almost completed their preparations for the start of the season.

Former champions Al Ahli have arrived in the western region Al Dhafra to start their campaign from there. The Red Knights are believed to be in their best form after a successful move by the club’s new management to secure the services of the Premiership coach David O’Leary and three top foreign players. They included Juventus international defender Canavaro, Al Wahda’s brilliant midfielder Pinga and Mainz 05 smart striker Aristide Bance.

In Dubai, defending champions Al Wahda will have an uphill task against the Gulf champions Al Wasl when the two giants lock horns at Zabeel Stadium.

Al Wahda had an unexpected start of the season when they went 1-3 down to relegated Al Emarat in the Super Cup last week and they have too much work to do to pacify with their angry fans.

On Friday, promoted Ittihad Kalba host Sharjah and Al Jazira entertain Al Wasl. And on Saturday Al Ain take on Dubai at Al Qattara Stadium and Al Shabab play Bani Yas at Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

Referees for Pro-League

The referees Committee of the UAEFA has assigned the following referees for the first round of the Etisalat Pro-League for the new season 2010/ 2011 set to kick off on Thursday.

Thursday (26.8.2010)

1- Al-Dhafra v Al Ahli (Al Dhafra Stadium in the Western Region)

Referee: Mohammed Abdul Karim. First Assistant Referee: Ebrahim Hassan Ghuloom. Second Assistant Referee: Sultan Sahoo. Fourth Referee: Abdullah Naji. Commissioner: Ali Makhlouf.

2- Al-Wasl v Al-Wahda (Zabeel Stadium in Dubai)

Referee: Fareed Ali. First Assistant Referee: Ahmed Al Shamsi. Second Assistant Referee: Hassan Saqatri. Fourth Referee: Fahad Al Kassar. Commissioner: Nasser Abdullah.

Friday (27.8.2010)

1- Ittihad Kalba v Al-Sharjah (Ittihad Kalba Stadium in Kalba)

Referee: Ebrahim Al Muhairi. First Assistant Referee: Ebrahim Al Mansouri. Second Assistant Referee: Masoud Hassan. Fourth Referee: Yaqoub Qassim. Commissioner: Ali Suroor.

2- Al-Jazira v Al-Nasr (Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi)

Referee: Mohammed Abdullah Hassan. First Assistant Referee: Saleh Al Marzouqi. Second Assistant Referee: Jasem Abdullah. Fourth Referee: Abdullah Al Ajel. Commissioner: Badr Al Badri.

Saturday (28.8.2010)

1- Al Ain v Dubai (Tahnoon bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Qattara)

Referee: Hamad Al Shaikh. First Assistant Referee: Zayed Dawood. Second Assistant Referee: Mohammed Ahmed Yousuf. Fourth Referee: Hamad Ali Yousuf. Commissioner: Khaled Al Dokhi.

2- Al-Shabab v Bani Yas (Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium in Dubai)

Referee: Ali Hamad. First Assistant Referee: Ahmed Al Shamsi. Second Assistant Referee: Khamis Fairoz. Fourth Referee: Abdul Wahid Khater. Commissioner: Ahmed Yaqoub.

Note: Home teams first. All Games kick off at 10pm (UAE time).