Al Wahda defender Hamdan Al Kamali has urged the Pro League Committee (PLC) to do more to encourage fans to attend domestic matches.
The anticipated rise in interest in the Arabian Gulf League has failed to materialise since football in the UAE went professional six years ago.
More than 20,000 fans packed the Hazza bin Zayed for its inauguration as Al Ain took on Al Dhafra in January, but that figure is the exc-eption rather than the rule.
Al Jazira had some success during their championship-winning season of 2010-11, and 36,000 people flocked to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on the final day of the season with the lure of winning prizes, including a Ferrari.
That approach has been adopted by the ongoing Nad Al Sheba Ramadan Sports Festival, where daily and weekly prizes include smartphones, tablets and cars – and thousands have filled the stands.
“Attracted by the big prizes on offer and the promise of some high level competition in the matches, fans are attending this event and sitting late into the night,” Al Kamali said on a visit to the event. “They are really having a good time.
“The Pro League Committee should have a look at this tournament and see how we could raise the level of competition. If we can get this kind of a crowd at the Arabian Gulf League matches, it will inevitably raise the level of the matches and the competition. At the moment, we don’t see fans at a lot of the matches and fans are the heartbeat of football.”
UAE star Al Kamali was watching the final group games of the futsal competition in Dubai, and was clearly impressed with the level of skill – especially from two-time FIFA Futsal World Cup winner Falcao.
“The presence of a star like Brazilian Falcao will definitely excite the crowds,” Al Kamali added. “He is a player with great skills and he is a great entertainer.
“So I believe, one of the positives we are going to see from this event is that it will give a great impetus to futsal. Playing alongside and against some of the best players of the world will raise the level of our players and encourage many more people to play futsal.”
