Al Ahli take on Guangzhou Evergrande in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final on Saturday with the tie finely poised after this month’s 0-0 draw in Dubai. Everton Ribeiro, the Ahli playmaker, spoke to the media ahead of the return fixture at Guangzhou’s Tianhe Stadium.
[LIVE BLOG: Follow the build-up to the Asian Champions League final second leg]
ON FULFILLING A DREAM:
“We’ve been working hard during this season and in this competition and now we are now one step away of our dream, which is this trophy,” Ribeiro said. “We are getting prepared to be in the best shape to achieve this dream. We hope with the help of God and the work we have done so far that we can take the trophy.”
ON COMPLETING THE PROJECT:
“When I started the conversation about coming to the club, I had a meeting with the president and all the staff and the biggest target for the club was to reach this point. With all our teamwork, today the dream to achieve this final has come true. Because of that, tomorrow we’re going to do our best to reach the objective we had planned for.”
On GUANGZHOU’S THREAT:
“Guangzhou are a very strong team and during the season have played very good football. They have local players with quality and also the foreign players that everyone already knows about. But our team is a compact team as well, who have been playing good football and we know the quality we have, too. Our hope tomorrow is to proceed and bring the cup back.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
UAE Falcons
Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.
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Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
