Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: A delegation from the United Arab Emirates visited AFC House on Thursday to submit the UAE's bid book for the hosting right of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
The delegation, which consisted of UAE FA Acting General Secretary Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri and Abu Dhabi Sports Council officials Talal Al Hashemi and Duccio Ticciati, were welcomed to the home of Asian football by AFC General Secretary Dato' Alex Soosay, who expressed his appreciation that the UAE had chosen to submit the document personally.
"We are honoured to have this opportunity to personally come to AFC House to hand over our bid book for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on behalf of the UAE Football Association," said Al Dhaheri.
"We hope we have covered (in the bid book) all the scopes necessary to host the competition. Our nation has been hosting many international sporting events and also football competitions and we are looking forward to being the venue for this high-profile tournament."
Member Associations (MAs) interested to bid for the hosting rights of the 2019 edition of the continent's flagship national team competition have until May 30 to submit their bid.
A two-day bid workshop for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup was held in September last year to explain the requirements of bidding and hosting the 2019 edition and to provide them with the opportunity to get more information and clarifications on the requirements and procedures.
Australia, hosts of the upcoming 2015 edition, have pledged to hold the best competition ever in the tournament's history, and now with the bid submission deadline looming close, the race is nearing the end for MAs interested to host the 2019 edition.