Capital aiming to be host with the most

Euan Megson

• Last Updated: November 05. 2009 8:54PM UAE / November 5. 2009 4:54PM GMT

ABU DHABI // With just more than a month until Abu Dhabi hosts its first Fifa Club World Cup, three members of the tournament’s organising committee have spelled out exactly why they think the UAE is the perfect host for the 11-day competition.

“This is one of the main championships that Fifa organises,” said Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi, president of the UAE Football Association. “It is prestigious and we are living in a region where the passion for football is no less than any other part of the world.

“To host such an event is good for the whole region. It’s good for the spectators, media, players, officials – everybody.”

While its format and title has changed down the years – the Club World Cup’s previous monikers were the Intercontinental Cup and the Club World Championship – the ultimate prize has not: the winning side can proclaim to be the world champions of club football.

But after being based in Japan for the last four years, the Club World Cup enters its latest era on December 9, when the UAE capital kicks-off its two-year agreement to host the only club competition held by the game’s world governing body.

With much-fancied European Champions League winners Barcelona, as well as Copa Libertadores victors Estudiantes, from South America, only entering at the semi-final stage, the Pro League champions Al Ahli, under the guidance of new manager Mahdi Ali, will open the tournament against Oceania champions Auckland City.

In total, seven clubs – representative winners of their regional club competitions – will start the Club World Cup with the goal of replacing Manchester United as the world champions of club football.

“It’s a moment where we will see the world focus on the region, the UAE and its capital, Abu Dhabi,” added al Rumaithi. “That was the idea behind bringing this big tournament to Abu Dhabi and why we worked so hard to present a good [bid] to Fifa.

“We know the Japanese have succeeded in organising a good tournament, but that doesn’t mean other countries cannot host it. Fifa likes to see its big championships everywhere. It has a concept of spreading football and letting people enjoy seeing games and teams from all over the world – this region deserves to host such a tournament.”

Al Rumaithi was backed by Abu Dhabi Sports Council general secretary Mohammed al Mahmoud, who thinks the Club World Cup will enhance the UAE capital’s growing reputation in the international sporting arena.

“Hosting an international event such as the Fifa Club World Cup fulfils a strategic objective of Abu Dhabi Sports Council,” said al Mahmoud. “We now have many major international events and our target is to make Abu Dhabi an established sport destination for all the people of the world.

“We recently had the Formula One, now it’s the Club World Cup, then the [Capitala] tennis [starting on December 31] and in January the [Abu Dhabi] golf championship.

“All these events are organised with our partners and stakeholders in Abu Dhabi – in this case, it’s the UAE FA – and they give us opportunities to showcase Abu Dhabi as a leading sport destination.”

With eight games in 11 days, the Mohammed bin Zayed and Zayed Sports City stadiums will share hosting rights.

Having decreed the Yas Marina Circuit’s debut Formula One Grand Prix a roaring success, Thomas Gurtner, the tournament director, believes the city’s infrastructure is ready to host another sporting mega-event.

“From an operational side, Abu Dhabi is a fantastic venue,” said Gurtner. “This will be the first time the competition has taken place in one city. There are not many locations that can offer nine training pitches, two stadiums and enough hotel facilities for all the teams.

“This is very positive for the competition as they are all very important factors in hosting such a big event – it makes it eas-ier to organise, which is important for Fifa.”

Those organisational skills will be put to the test on Thursday, when the UAE play Manchester City in a glamour friendly at the recently refurbished Zayed Sports City stadium, a high profile warm-up for the big event.

“The game on November 12 will be a test,” said al Rumaithi. “The stadium was already a good one, but it looks fabulous after the refurbishment – it’s ready. The other stadium [Al Jazira’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium] has already hosted a couple of league matches – we have no problem with the stadiums, they are used to hosting big matches.”

emegson@thenational.ae