Only a few weeks ago, members were assigned to the various committees of the recently formed Gulf Football Union under the guidance of the elected President – Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani who is also the boss of the Qatari Football Association. While these meetings…

One of the more fascinating chronicles of foreign coaches in Middle Eastern football is the impact or fate of Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu – the ‘infamous’ Al Ahli (UAE) gaffer. The Romanian’s comments about his future in recent news conference have raised a few eyebrows. The conversation has kindled…

The respective football federations in the region have a problem that needs to be addressed. Majority of the officials involved in the sport across the region tend to be 50 years and up barely making room for individuals to take over the backend roles that exist within the…

During the mid-1700s, as the Al Saud clan operated tirelessly in establishing the first Saudi state and working rigorously on expanding their presence felt across the region, little were they aware of a similar yet powerful tribe making noise approximately 500kms to the East. Descendants of the Banu…

“It was my father who taught us that an immigrant must work twice as hard as anybody else, that he must never give up.” An absolute favorite quote stated by a footballer – I adore more than anyone else – Zinedine Zidane. This is a call to action…

Photo Credit: Al Sadd FC When Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez was unveiled as an Al-Sadd player a few months ago, he was stepping into the unknown. All his life, the midfield genius had played for Barcelona. Catalan-born and bred, Xavi will have felt a tinge of awkwardness pulling…

2004 was a good year for Bahrain. The tiny country East of Saudi Arabia, which at one point, once known as the financial world of the Middle East, was ranked 44th in the FIFA global ranking system. Having finished 4th in the 2004 Asian Cup, Bahrain was named…

On December the 2nd in 1971, a piece of land that was filled with vast deserts and areas of water was formed and it was named the United Arab Emirates. 43 years later, and the country had mesmerised people all around the world with beautiful skyscrapers, incredible sceneries…