Al Serkal, 57, is standing once again for the highest football position in the Emirates during April 30’s election. Opposing him is Marwan bin Ghalita, who was until last month chairman of Al Nasr.

Since 2012, the UAE have enjoyed both global and continental success. Speaking on Monday at the unveiling of his latest program, Al Serkal believed those achievements stood testament to his vision.

He said: “I have proven myself in the last four years. We qualified for the London 2012 Olympics, won the 2013 Gulf Cup and we played very well when finishing third in the 2015 Asian Cup.

“Experience is very important. Why? Because I feel very positive and I have the guts to say ‘we can do it’. Now that I’ve grown old, I can look back and think I do possess the experience. I can easily tell people my ideas and come across well to them.

“I can talk about what was done, what should have been done and how it will be done.”

Al Serkal claimed his first election in 2004, prematurely stepping aside in 2007 after the Gulf Cup was lifted on home soil. He headed a temporary board in 2011, prior to regaining the position during the 2012 vote.

He had warm words for his current opponent, but believes Bin Ghalita should have bided his time for a future bid.

“He is a good friend and a good man,” said Al Serkal. “Honestly, I respect this man. I was hoping he would run for vice-president, worked with me and taken the experience.

“I am not surprised he is running. I know he is a very ambitious person, but not everything can be accomplished by ambition. He needs the experience.”

Each professional club in the UAE will cast a single vote at the end of this month to decide who will perform the role until 2020.