Quique Sanchez Flores, the Al Ain coach, hopes his side can maintain their winning momentum when they meet Al Shabab, the second-place team in the Arabian Gulf League, tonight.
The 11-time league champions go into the match at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in an upbeat mood after a resounding 3-0 win over Al Wasl last Friday.
“The New Year has started well for us and I wish to keep this winning for my team,” Sanchez Flores said.
“The most important thing in this game is that we didn’t concede a goal. So the morale is high in the camp and, with such confidence, we are hopeful of another good performance.
“I should thank Al Ain’s faithful fans who were behind us for the entire 90 minutes in our victory over Wasl. I am sure they will be behind us, as always, in this game too.
“Shabab are a good team. That’s why they are in second position. It is a key game for both teams because if we win we get close to the leading group and if they win, they will be in a stronger position.”
Sanchez Flores insisted it was too early to think about the league title but what was important for his team was to improve their performances and achieve good results.
Meanwhile, Baniyas will be looking to end their five-game winless drought when they host Ajman.
“It has been a very frustrating period for us and winning against Ajman would certainly do a world of good to the morale of the team,” said Jorge da Silva, the Baniyas coach.
“We were a bit unlucky when we had to play with 10 players for more than 70 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Al Shabab [last Friday].
“We can take a lot of positives from that game because in my opinion it was an excellent result against a team who are second in the league table.”
Sharjah will look to consolidate their position in the top half of the Arabian Gulf League table when they take on Al Wasl at home.
“I wouldn’t for sure know of their mindset coming in to this game but our objective is crystal clear, which is to win the three points,” said Paulo Bonamigo, the Sharjah coach.
apassela@thenational.ae
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if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
