JOHANNESBURG // Mrisho Ngasa, a West Ham United reject, will receive special attention when Al Ahly begin the hunt for a record third consecutive CAF Champions League title this weekend.
Ngasa, who had unsuccessful 2009 trials with the English Premier League club, scored a hat-trick in each leg when Tanzanians Young Africans went on a 12-goal preliminary-round romp.
But after bagging six goals against international rookies Komorozine from the Comoros Islands, the 24-year-old son of a former Tanzania midfielder must face the defensively tight Egyptians.
Wael Gomaa, the 38-year-old back-four marshal of the Cairo Red Devils, was included in the squad for the last-32 clash in Dar es Salaam after announcing he will retire this year.
Goalkeeper Sherif Ekrami, another star following in the footsteps of his father, and full-backs Ahmed Fathy and Sayed Moawad are battle-hardened African campaigners.
Apart from Ngasa, Ahly will be wary of Burundian Didier Kavumbagu and Ugandan Hamis Kiiza, who each netted twice against the outclassed Comorans.
Ahly overcame poor domestic form to defeat Tunisian visitors CS Sfaxien 3-2 last week to win a CAF Super Cup thriller soured by post-match clashes between Egyptian supporters and police.
The result eased pressure on coach Mohamed Youssef, whose side has been hard hit by the retirements last year of midfield icons Mohamed Abou Trika and Mohamed Barakat.
“They were key players,” Youssef told reporters. “Injuries have not helped us either and contributed heavily to the national league losses.”
Veteran, injury-prone striker Emad Moteab has shaken off a hamstring problem and could face the Tanzanians beside young two-goal Super Cup star Amr Gamal.
Young Africans Dutch coach Hans van der Pluijm knows Ahly having been in charge of Ghanaians Berekum Chelsea when they drew and lost against them in the 2012 Champions League.
“Ahly are very strong and know how to play these qualifiers,” he told reporters, “but we do not fear them and will do everything to qualify for the next round.”
Ahly are among eight Champions League title contenders who have lifted the trophy with compatriots Zamalek having home advantage over Angolans Kabuscorp.
Zamalek won the last of five titles 12 years ago and face rivals bolstered by the signing of Democratic Republic of Congo playmaker Tresor Mputu.
Nigerians Enyimba, champions in 2003 and 2004, also play at home first and should prove too strong for modest Malians Real Bamako.
It will be a shock if 1988 title-holders Entente Setif of Algeria did not triumph against visiting Burkinabe outfit ASFA Yennenga, who are regular but generally unsuccessful CAF campaigners.
Tunisians Esperance, Congolese TP Mazembe and Moroccans Raja Casablanca are former champions who pose potential threats to the hat-trick ambitions of Ahly.
Esperance start in Kenya against Gor Mahia, a side indebted to goalkeeper Jerim Onyango for reaching the first round after he saved two penalties away to Gabonese Bitam.
Scottish coach Bobby Williamson has reminded his players that the Nairobi club achieved the seemingly impossible against Esperance in 1987 by winning the African Cup Winners Cup final.
Mazembe face Astres Douala in Cameroon, Raja tackle Horoya in Guinea and 1973 African champions Vita, the second DR Congo challengers, are away to Zimbabweans Dynamos.
Matches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with the return fixtures one week later and the 16 aggregate winners enter the final qualifying round.
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Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
Fourth-round clashes for British players
- Andy Murray (1) v Benoit Paire, Centre Court (not before 4pm)
- Johanna Konta (6) v Caroline Garcia (21), Court 1 (4pm)
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 specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Sri Lanka squad
Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Milinda Siriwardana, Roshen Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Charith Asalanka, Shaminda Eranga and Dhammika Prasad.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
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Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
HAJJAN
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BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
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