The delayed 2021 Asian Champions League group stages get under way – finally – on Wednesday, with three UAE entrants. Here are the details.
Postponed pools
Typically, the Champions League groups kick off in February, but the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic forced a rescheduling. The West Asian section (Groups A-E) begins this week, although the East Asian zone does not start until June or July. Asia’s premier club competition is divided between the East and West zones right up until the final. For the first time, the group stage features 40 clubs – an increase from the traditional 32. The UAE’s three participants comprise Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Sharjah and Al Wahda. Al Ain, the only Emirati winners of the trophy, missed out on the groups by losing a play-off on Saturday against Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan.
Centralised venues
Given travel restriction implemented because of the pandemic, the decision was taken earlier this year to hold each group in one host city. Therefore, Dubai's Shabab Al Ahli will play all their Group A matches in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi side Al Wahda have travelled to Goa for their Group G campaign, and Sharjah stages Group B. All matches span a 16-day period this month. The winners of each group and the three best runners-up from each region advance to the knockouts, entering at the last-16 stage. That phase is slated for September. Teams play their group rivals twice.
Fixtures – West region
Matchday 1 – April 14/15
Matchday 2 – April 17/18
Matchday 3 – April 20/21
Matchday 4 – April 23/24
Matchday 5 – April 26/27
Matchday 6 – April 29/30
Groups featuring UAE clubs:
Group A
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – 1991, 2000 and 2019 winners
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE) – 2015 runners-up
FC Istiklol (Tajikistan) - debutants
FC AGMK (Uzbekistan) - debutants
Venues: King Fahd International Stadium, Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Saudi Arabia
Group B
Sharjah (UAE) – 2004 quarter-finals
FC Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) – 2003 and 2004 semi-finals
FC Tractor (Iran) – 2016 last 16
Air Force Club (Iraq) – 3 x Group Stages
Venue: Sharjah Stadium, UAE
Group E
FC Goa (India) - debutants
Persepolis (Iran) – 2018 and 2020 runners-up
Al Rayyan (Qatar) – 5 x Group Stages
Al Wahda (UAE) – 2007 semi-finals
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, India
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)
Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
LUKA CHUPPI
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
Rating: 3/5
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg
Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
