Grafite
Al Ahli's leader on and off the pitch, the Brazilian has been a revelation since joining from Germany's Wolfsburg in 2011. In three seasons in Dubai, Grafite has scored 59 times in 66 league matches to steer the previously flagging club from mid-table to championship challengers. Last season, his 19 goals helped Ahli seal a first top-flight title in five years. Grafite is a dedicated professional and captain of the club. Despite celebrating his 35th birthday in April, he shows little sign of slowing, which encouraged Ahli to extend his contract for another season. He might be the oldest foreign player in the division, but his talent remains undiminished, as does his engine: he racked up more minutes in the league through 2013/14 (2,138) than any of Ahli's outfield players. Voted league's foreign player of the year these past two terms.
Abdulsalam Jumaa
Age seems no barrier to Al Dhafra’s evergreen midfielder. The veteran, 37, still exerts an ability to control his side’s tempo and as captain forms a dual function. Played 25 league matches last season as Dhafra finished eighth and, although he talks of retirement almost every summer, there is another campaign in him.
Abdullah Mousa
The former Al Nasr goalkeeper was a safe pair of hands behind a generous back line at Emirates club last season and, at 34, he has retained his agility and sharp reflexes. Acts as captain, too, so his experience and input is important in the dressing room. Will be busy again this campaign.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
Squads
India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur
West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
