Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
The Egyptian Football Association say they are confident a resolution to the image-rights dispute with star player Mohamed Salah will soon be found.
The Liverpool forward, comfortably his country’s most high-profile footballer, has been involved in a disagreement with the FA since last April, when his image was used to promote the national team’s official telecommunications sponsor WE, despite having his own deal with rival company Vodafone.
The problem escalated in August, when Salah accused the FA of ignoring his complaints. At one point, reports suggested the 26 year old would consider retiring from international football.
On Wednesday, Hazem Emam, a celebrated former Egypt international who now sits on the FA board, said he was sure an agreement would be reached.
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Read more:
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Mohamed Salah calls for Egyptian FA sackings unless demands are met
Mohamed Salah dispute with Egyptian FA reignited: 'My messages are being ignored'
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"It's around the commercial stuff, but now we are talking with his lawyer and we will try to make a deal with him," said Emam in Dubai, where he was promoting an event for Du Football Champions. "He's our player, a big player - we know how he is.
"And now he’s a megastar not like before, he has some rights, we have some rights, and we try to compromise on what we can do. But for us he is always one of the best and we have all respect for him.
“We haven't had a megastar like that before in Egypt. He has details in contracts, details in life now because he has his own agency, so we try to deal with him about this.
“It’s difficult because it’s the first time, but he is a nice guy and we try to solve everything. We try to have a deal with him to make it easier to concentrate on the football more than this stuff.
“Now it’s in the paperwork. He’s always talking directly with our head of FA, [president] Hany Abo Rida, and now the minister of youth is also involved, and we all try to help him to come to a point together.”
Emam, who represented Egypt 87 times between 1995 and 2005, conceded the relationship between Salah and the FA had been broken, but that it was "now in a better way".
Emam said he did not believe the ongoing issue had impacted negatively Salah's performances on the pitch.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “He’s professional and now at a level where he knows how to work. This other stuff, I’d advise him - although he doesn’t need my advice - that concentrating on football would be better for him, because this is what makes him now Mohamed Salah, the best player in the Premier League last year.”
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
