Two leading figures in the Pro League have been appointed to senior positions within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Dr Khalid Mohammed Abdullah, the managing director of the Pro League Committee, has become a member of the AFC Ad-Hoc Committee for Professional Leagues while Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, the chairman of the Board of Directors at Al Ahli, has joined the Ad-Hoc Committee for Professional Clubs. The professional league's committee acts as a consultative body for the AFC executive in matters related to the professional leagues in Asia, the development of professional football as well as the implementation of the Champions League.
"This is one of the most important committees in the AFC because it discusses the professional football-related matters and leagues in the continent," said Abdullah.
He said that being a member of the committee would give him more experience and knowledge of the AFC.
"My appointment will also benefit the UAE because of the experience and the exposure that I may be able to pass on to our Pro League," he said
Abdullah was the chief executive at Al Ain before taking up his position on the Pro League Committee.
"This posting will provide me with the opportunity to work, discuss and exchange new ideas from my colleagues in the AFC and some of them may be implemented or recommended to our own structure," he said.
When asked about Pro League clubs' poor record in the Asian Champions League recently, Abdullah said: "We have done well in the past with Al Ain winning the championship in 2003 and I am sure the Pro League clubs are stronger this season and we will see some of the teams doing well in the 2012 staging of the ACL."
