Diego Maradona, the Al Wasl coach, can salvage a disappointing first season as his team bid to become the third successive UAE winners of the Gulf Club Championship.
Wasl meet Al Khor of Qatar tonight at Zabeel Stadium in the first leg of the semi-final. The Dubai club won the tournament in 2010, before Al Shabab beat Al Ahli in the final last November.
"Yes, winning the GCC Cup will help boost us for next season," Maradona tweeted on the club's official Twitter account.
Wasl are eighth in the Pro League with one game left, having only won seven of their 21 matches.
After their last match - a 5-2 defeat to Dubai - some fans even called for Maradona to be replaced.
Maradona said: "We are fully prepared and ready to face Al Khor. We studied them well and know they rely on possession. We will try to deny them that."
The tournament involves teams who were not competing in Asian competition. Wasl beat Al Wahda in the quarter-finals last week. Julio Cesar, the Brazilian forward who started the season as a Shabab player before leaving in January, is the second top scorer in the competition with five goals.
And Maradona said: "He is dangerous and we will do our best to stop him from causing any trouble for us."
[ apassel@thenational.ae ]
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The specs
Engine: Single front-axle electric motor
Power: 218hp
Torque: 330Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 402km (claimed)
Price: From Dh215,000 (estimate)
On sale: September
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
