SEOUL // A possible date with Barcelona's glittering line-up was a "wonderful thing" for Al Sadd, Jorge Fossati, the coach said, after qualifying for the Club World Cup by winning the AFC Champions League.
Fossati, who led the Qatari side to a dramatic win on penalties against South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors, said his team could meet Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi in the competition which starts on December 8 in Tokyo.
"It's a wonderful thing for my players," the Uruguayan said, explaining that the draw means his side must win at least one game before setting up the clash between the Qataris and the Catalan giants.
"We must enjoy our victory now, but we will soon represent Asia in the Club World Cup, so we need to be in top condition for that.
"We will continue to improve and I will push the team to go to Japan to have more than just a look ... we must perform and see what happens."
Fossati was speaking in Incheon airport before the team's return to Doha after a night of celebrations following their 4-2 win on penalties in the thrilling Champions League final against the favourites Jeonbuk.
His side triumphed after a nail-biting 2-2 stalemate forced extra-time and then penalties, which saw Al Sadd claim a continental trophy for the first time since 1989.
"I'm proud of the these players and the mentality they have shown to win the trophy," he said. "They can now trust themselves."
The Club World Cup will see clubs from every continent compete over ten days in Japan. The field is led by Barcelona and Santos, with Al Sadd joining the winners of the J-League and Mexico's Monterrey.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
