Young footballers in an all-Emirati school side are dreaming of representing the UAE at the World Cup in years to come, after being inspired by Morocco's march to glory in Qatar.
The team of 10-year-olds have watched on in awe as the Atlas Lions first roared past highly regarded Belgium to secure a place in the knockout stages before shocking 2010 world champions Spain in a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Tuesday.
Morocco became the first Arab nation to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament, with fans from all over the region uniting to cheer them on.
The newly formed squad at Gems Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis are hoping the determined North Africans can go all the way ― even if many of the pupils have a soft spot for the Samba stars of Brazil.
Abdulla Alfarsi, 10, started playing football when he was only three years old.
The remarkable achievements of Morocco have given the sixth-year pupil the belief that he too could one day shine on the world stage.
Amazed by Morocco
"The teams I'm supporting are Brazil and Morocco and I'm really proud of Morocco because they're the first Arab team to ever reach the quarter-finals,” said Abdulla.
“It just amazed me and gave me hope that I can maybe reach that level one day as an Arab boy who has a dream to play professionally.
“My goal is to reach the highest level possible and I'm hoping that I can do that one day. My goal is to become professional football player and make the UAE proud.”
Saif Alefari, is also backing Brazil and the magnificent Moroccans.
“I am supporting Brazil, but part of me just wants Morocco to win. I would like to play for my country one day,” said Saif who loves sports and also plays volleyball and basketball.
Adulrahman Al Blooshi got so excited at watching Morocco win that he did a victory lap around in his house late on Tuesday.
He said he and his family were willing on the Arab nation.
“I am supporting Morocco but also a tiny part of me is supporting Brazil," said Adulrahman.
“It felt amazing to watch Morocco win,” said the pupil who watched the game with his family.
World Cup made for perfect kick-off
Jason Smith, head of academy football at the school, established the team in November.
They have only played one game against another Dubai outfit so far, but have more matches planned in the new term.
“The World Cup didn't have any massive impact on my decision to start this team but it's just been lucky that it coincided with the World Cup," said Mr Smith.
"The whole thing with Morocco doing really well really inspires them to kick on.
"Because the boys are just 10 years old, we talked about how, in 12 years' time, they could be playing at a World Cup and representing the UAE.
"The good thing is because the boys are such a young age, I've got a lot of times to mould them and hopefully help them to realise their dreams.”
Mr Smith wants to nurture future Emirati football talent and aims to help the pupils play against as many schools as possible.
His intention is ensure any Emirati who is at their school and wants to be involved in the squad can do so easily.
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
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'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
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Rating: 3.5/5
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
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Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
