KHALED HOLDS PROMISE FOR UAE
AL KAMALI SAYS IT IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SOMEONE A CHAMPION. IT SHOULD START FROM THE ATHLETE’S HOME, HIS PARENTS, THE SOCIETY, THE MINISTRY OF SPORTS, FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
He could be called the ‘Father’ of athletics in the UAE. He has been a part of the sport for over 43 years now – right from the time he participated as an athlete for the national team over 21 years to holding the post of President of the UAE Athletics Federation (UAEAF) for the third successive term. And, Ahmed Al Kamali has pinned hopes on teenager Khaled Khalil to bring glory to the UAE in 3000m steeplechase event.
“I think if I was not the president of the federation, I would sponsor Khaled (Khalil). Some day if I am out of the federation I will sponsor him. I’m expecting him to be a very big name by 2024. He is the one to watch and is sure to go very far,” Al Kamali, who is eyeing the post of vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), told Khaleej Times.x
Discussing the UAE roadmap for the forthcoming Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics, he said: “Then there is Zayed Al Shamsi from Al Ain. He runs 13.43seconds in 110m hurdles. He is quite a strong runner.
“I am expecting very fast times from our athletes in the coming three months. Our target is the podium in the next Asian Games which is exactly a year away.”
Kamali says it is not his responsibility to make someone a champion. “It’s not only my responsibility, it should start from the athlete’s home, his parents, the society, the ministry of sports, from the chairman of the Olympic committee.
“If the society doesn’t help then at the end of the day I have failed.
“If someone comes forward and says I will sponsor the boy from now to 2020 that’s the real support.
“In the 12 years that I have been in charge of the UAEAF I can say that in the last 10 years we have done quite good. You name it, and our athletes have won medals in all events in Asian, Pan Arab and West Asia competitions.
“At international level we qualified for the 2012 London Olympics, Rio Olympics and also two athletes qualified for the World Championships Cross Country.
“Two of our athletes have qualified for the London World Championships. So the federation has done quite well. At the moment we are working with a big number of juniors and we are hoping by 2020 Olympics we will have at least five athletes who will qualify to Tokyo and two or three that will make it to the final and hopefully win a medal. That’s our target.
“It’s not difficult, we are working very hard towards it. We have high calibre coaches now. Former Olympic gold medallist and world champion Said Aouita, of Morocco, is coaching the boys so we are hoping to get some good results.
“Khaled is promising junior 3000m steeplechase runner. He is only 17 years. He is still at the preparation level so we can’t hang the coach and say we want faster times. But in 2018 we will put a gun on the coach’s head (saying it with a smirk on his face) to bring a medal in the Asian Games. And in 2020 Olympics we have to go to the final (in 3000m steeplechase), that’s our target.”
Talking about the roadmap for youngsters, Kamali said: “We have already started an Olympic programme to build future athletes. But we can’t compare ourselves to China or India because we are talking of 1.2 to 1.3 billion people so these counties have more options. For instance, when it comes to China if they need 10,000 runners for 800 metres, they get 12,00 runners. But for me if I need three or four athletes for 800 metres, I have just 20 athletes maximum, or even less than that, so my choice becomes limited.”
Being an athlete himself, Al Kamali felt athletics is a poor people’s event.
“If you don’t feel you are hungry you cannot become a champion. If as an athlete I am driving a BMW or a Rolls-Royce I will never become a world champion.
“I came across some Ethiopians who personally asked me to support them with food, and now they are the best athletes in the world,” he confided.
I think if I was not the president of the federation, I would sponsor Khaled (Khalil). Some day if I am out of the federation I will sponsor him Ahmed Al Kamali Two of our athletes have qualified for the London World Championships. So the federation has done quite well. At the moment we are working with a big number of juniors and we are hoping by 2020 Olympics we will have at least five athletes who will qualify to Tokyo Ahmed Al Kamali