Life-style key to success: Cannavaro

The former captain of Italy who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany was speaking at a Professional Player Seminar organised by AFC and the UAE Football Association, Pro League Committee and Dubai Sports Council in association with FIFPro under the AFC KICK OFF programme. 

“The most important thing for the professional footballers is the task of maintaining their body as only a well maintained body can address the demanding physical and mental nature of the game,” he said addressing around 50 professional footballers plying their trade in the Pro League club across the UAE. 

“You need to eat well and at the same time sleep well which is very important for the athletes to keep themselves fit,” said the current Al Ahli FIFA Ballon d’Or winner. 

Likewise, former Saudi Arabia international striker Sami Al Jaber emphasised that for the professional footballers it’s the triumphant moments which count the most. 

“As a professional you must look at the financial side of it but the thing that matters the most is success on the pitch. Success is what people will remember you for long so to achieve those successes, professionals need to work hard,” he said addressing the fellow professionals coming from Dubai and Northern Emirates of the UAE. 

A joint panel consisting of Julie Norris of INTERPOL, FIFA’s Nick Raudenski and AFC also discussed the key principles in the fight against match-fixing. 

The risks of match-fixing were discussed from the players’ perspective, the potential seriousness and consequences of match-fixing. 

KICK OFF is a revamped AFC Development programme which focuses on strengthening the club and league management of AFC’s Member Associations through tailor-made self-sustainable remedies. 

The Professional Player Seminar, which aims to promote the professionalism of players off the pitch, is one of the 10 services which the programme provides to the Member Associations. Currently there are 13 countries benefiting from KICK OFF.

Photo: Arshad Khan