Dubai: One of the UAE's all-time football greats has accused the authorities of not doing enough to ensure that the country qualifies for a second World Cup.

Sharjah Club player Ali Thani Juma Al Ehawi came into the limelight when he became the second national player after Khalid Esmail to score at the World Cup, finding the net during the team's 4-1 loss to Yugoslavia at Italia 1990.

Until then, the attacking midfielder had been content playing for his club and country out of mere passion for the sport. But on that day — June 19 to be precise — he bagged his goal and realised there was another side to the sport.

"It was the first time for me at a World Cup. To start I was overawed with what I saw — the huge stadium, the large crowds of adoring fans inside the stadium and an even larger presence outside. I suddenly started looking at football in a different way. Something changed within," Al Ehawi told Gulf News in a candid chat.

That change brought about a realisation that he was now among the best players in the world.

"People were coming up and asking me to sign autographs, and they were doing the same for players from other teams as well. Suddenly it dawned upon me that I was equal to all these players," the 42 year old reminisced.

"Admittedly, some of us from the UAE did not even qualify as players with adequate qualities to play a World Cup, but here we were sharing an equal stage with the world's best. What more can one seek as a sportsman?" he asked.

After losing 2-0 to Colombia in Bologna on June 9, the UAE went down 5-1 to a strong Germany on June 15.

Four days later, they lost 4-1 to Yugoslavia but not without making an impact.

Attacking flair

"I felt football for the first time in my life and that last match was special as our coach [Carlos Alberto Parreira] had asked us to adopt a more attacking style against Yugoslavia.

"It suited me well as I had the option of falling just behind the attackers for a shot on goal," he recollected.

"After I scored it was like attending a wedding celebration with more than 45,000 people enjoying that special moment with you. This is one moment I will never forget.

"Suddenly it dawned on me that I had done my own bit for football history in the UAE," Al Ehawi added.

Exactly two decades later, the player who now spends part of his time as commentator for Dubai Sports Channel, sees little being done by the football authorities in the UAE.

"The problem with the administration people is that they don't even have a short-term plan for the national side," he said.

"This is no rocket science. All major football countries have tried and tested this formula. We need to start with a national team when the players are in their teens, and set goals for them to achieve," he suggested.

Professional advice

"The administrators of the game should change their thinking. They should travel to other countries and see for themselves. They should allow our players to play elsewhere. They should turn professionals in their minds. It's a different world altogether in the UAE because players and officials just think about their clubs. No one has ever looked at football as a business, and this mentality needs to change," Al Ehawi added.

"And changing a coach every two to three years is definitely not going to help anyone."

Fact file

  • Name: Ali Thani Juma Al Ehawi
  • Date of birth: August 18, 1968
  • UAE team: 1989 to 1993
  • Position: Attacking midfielder
  • Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
  • Club: Sharjah FC
  • Currently: Commentator with Dubai Sports Channel proudly overlooking the football future of his five sons Mohammad, 19 (Al Shabab), Abdul Rahman, 17 (Sharjah), Salem, 15 (Sharjah), Abdullah, 11 (Sharjah) and Thani, 8 (Sharjah).
  • 1990 ITALY WORLD CUP