The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) delegation expressed their satisfaction on the ongoing work both at the Shabab Al Ahli Club’s Rashid stadium and Al Nasr Clubs Al Maktoum stadium after visits to the AFC Asian Cup venues in Dubai on Monday.
The two stadiums between them will host 11 matches of the Continental Championship’s slated from January 5 to February 1.
The visiting delegation headed by the AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John were briefed on the work-in-progress. The two stadiums are set to be completed by the end of November, ahead of the scheduled dates.
“We are delighted with what we have seen in the two stadiums,” said Dato Windsor. “They are spectacular and the facilities for both the teams and the fans are remarkable.”
The visiting delegation was accompanied by HE Aref Hamad Al Awani, Executive Director of the Local Organising Committee, and HE Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council and Chairman of the Dubai Group Organisation.
“The preparations have gone smoothly with every detail of the plan executed with pin point efficiency,” said HE Hareb.
“We want to provide the football fans in Asia and from around the world as well as the players and officials from the participating nations the best facilities we can offer. We are preparing the venues with that in mind.”
The AFC delegation also visited the Sharjah stadium and said they were equally satisfied with the work already nearing completion.
The HE Issa Hilal Al Hazami, General Secretary of Sharjah Sports Council Secretary and Director of the Sharjah organisational wing, took the visiting delegation on a tour of the stadium to access the work done so far.
“Having visited the three stadiums, I’m confident we are ahead of the schedule on preparing the venues,” said Dato Windsor.
HE Al Awani praised the LOC Dubai and Sharjah for their efforts to complete the refurbishing of the stadiums according to the timetable given to them.
“I’m deeply moved by the sincerity of the work done by both the Dubai and Sharjah organisations,” he said.
“I’m also pleased we have carried out the task of preparing the stadiums to the satisfaction of the AFC.
“As I stated earlier when we started the count-down for the tournament, this is the jewel in the crown in our sporting calendar of events this season. And we want to live up to that billing as the host nation.”
