Typically, at this time of year, the great and the good of the Arabian Gulf League come together for the season’s annual awards.
However, with the coronavirus prompting a suspension of play back in March, the ceremony most probably won't take place until the final seven rounds are complete - with a provisional date for the league's return set for August.
That said, The National has decided to hand out the prizes now, choosing our winners from the various categories based on the campaign thus far.
Best Emirati player: Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain)
No other candidate comes close. In fact, the Al Ain full-back-cum-winger is most probably the league’s standout player of the season, period. Just ask Kodjo Laba. The Togolese striker has been the chief profiteer of Al Ahbabi’s deadeye delivery, with eight of his 19 goals set up by the Emirati. Al Ahbabi, who mixes pace on the flank with precision in his crossing, leads the league with 12 assists from 17 league matches. Thanks in large part to the Al Ahbabi-Laba tandem, Al Ain sit second in the standings.
Honorable mention: Khalid Bawazir (Al Dhafra)
Best foreign player: Kodjo Laba (Al Ain)
What a debut season it’s been for the Al Ain frontman. Having arrived on a free transfer last June from Morocco’s RS Berkane, Laba has gone on to score 19 times in 18 league matches (four came in one outing, against Fujairah). Subsequently, the Togo international leads the race for the Golden Boot, four clear of his closest challenger, last season’s head marksman Sebastian Tagliabue. Finally, Al Ain appear to have a worthy replacement for the fabled Asamoah Gyan, five long years after the Ghanaian’s departure.
Honorable mention: Peniel Mlapa (Galba)
Best coach: Rodolfo Arruabarrena (Shabab Al Ahli)
OK, so this one's a little strange: the award goes to a manager no longer employed by his club. Arruabarrena was dismissed by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in early March, much to everyone's surprise, since his side sat pretty at the summit. At the time, the Dubai club held a three-point advantage, while also boasting the league's best defence. However, a run of poor results in all competitions culminated in the 2-2 league draw with Al Nasr, and Arruabarrena was gone. In a not-surprising development, the Argentine has since attracted interest from a number of clubs.
Honorable mention: Vuk Rasovic (Al Dhafra)
Best young player: Khalifa Al Hammadi (Al Jazira)
A tough category to judge, but the UAE international just about edges it. Al Hammadi’s burgeoning reputation has continued to swell at the heart of the Jazira defence. Still only 21, the centre-back has started 16 matches in the league – he was an almost ever-present last season - and contributes to a formidable backline that boasts the division’s second-best defence (17 goals conceded). Now a regular with the national team, too. Al Hammadi is quick and intelligent and, crucially, still has considerable room for improvement.
Honorable mention: Majed Rashid (Kalba)
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Khorfakkan Stadium voted second most picturesque venue in Asia
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Best young foreign-born player: Glauber (Al Nasr)
A new element to the league this season has been the broadening of the “resident” category, which allows for the inclusion of foreign players aged 23 and under. Al Nasr have been a major beneficiary of that, with Brazilian defender Glauber proving an astute addition among a wealth of South American youngsters flooding the division. Joining from Botafogo, the 19-year-old has been a steady and sturdy figure in defence, displaying both his tenacity and technical ability through 18 league appearances. An accomplished centre-back with a bright future.
Honorable mention: George Dwubeng (Al Wasl)
Best goalkeeper: Khalid Al Senani (Al Dhafra)
A long-time understudy to Ali Kasheif at Al Jazira, the Emirati stopper has become one of the league’s most consistent performers between the posts. Al Senani leads the league’s stats for saves made (80), from a competition-high 103 attempts at him, while his resolve and reflexes indicate how integral role a role he has played in the club’s relatively healthy current placing of eighth. What is more, Al Senani captains the side. At 30, he has built on last season’s strong debut campaign in the Western Region.
Honorable mention: Majed Naser (Shabab Al Ahli)
Goal of the season: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira v Shabab Al Ahli)
While there have been more spectacular strikes this season, this sweeping move and expert finish deservedly lands the award. A hotly contested match between league leaders Shabab Al Ahli and Jazira was decided at the death, when the visitors sprung an 88th-minute counter-attack. With the score at 1-1, Omar Abdulrahman’s searching reverse pass from deep found Ali Mabkhout in space, who then centred first time to Mubarak. The midfielder took a few touches, composed himself, then cheekily scooped the ball over Majed Naser in the home goal. Jazira had snatched the points in emphatic fashion.
Honorable mention: Amer Abdulrahman (Al Jazira v Al Wahda)
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Samaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Tips for avoiding trouble online
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
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The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
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