Giorgos Donis was announced as the new Sharjah manager after performing a U-turn regarding the position.
The Greek, 46, initially rejected an offer from the five-time UAE champions, believed to be a $5 million (Dh18.3m) package to cover his entire backroom staff, because he preferred to continue his career in Europe. He had most recently spent 15 months with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal before he was dismissed in May.
However, Donis reconsidered Sharjah’s proposal and was at the club on Wednesday to discuss the contract and was planning for the season ahead. He signed a two-year deal. Donis was installed as successor to Abdulaziz Al Anbari in time for Sharjah’s training camps in Austria and Germany. They leave for Europe on Friday.
More from the Arabian Gulf League:
• Mohammed Fayez: Al Ain 'striving for continental glory'
• AGL transfers so far: Diaky set for Al Jazira return, Al Ain add another Abdulrahman to ranks
• 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League fixtures: Times, dates and venues for each match
Sharjah are desperate to avoid a third consecutive season battling relegation in the Arabian Gulf League and have already signalled their intentions by signing Gelmin Rivas, the prolific Venezuelan striker from Saudi’s Al Ittihad. He replaces fellow forward Wanderley, who moved to Al Nasr earlier this month.
Sharjah are close to completing a deal for Wilker Angel, a compatriot of Rivas and a current international defender at Deportivo Tachira, although Donis reportedly prefers Digao, the Brazilian he managed at Hilal.
The other two available foreign slots in the squad will be decided by the new manager and the club’s technical committee.
Donis represented Sharjah’s No 1 target given his experience in the Gulf. He joined Hilal in February last year and during his time in Riyadh guided the club to success in the King’s Cup and the Crown Prince Cup. He also led Hilal to the semi-finals of the 2015 Asian Champions League, where Dubai’s Al Ahli defeated them.
Yet Hilal, 13-time Saudi champions, finished second in the Saudi Pro league last season. Donis was then relieved of his duties on May 18 following the 0-0 draw with Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv in the first leg of the last-16 Champions League tie.
Sharjah had also approached Pepe Mel, the former West Bromich Albion and Real Betis manager, but preferred Donis because of his knowledge of football in the region. Mel, 53, has never coached outside of Europe.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
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8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
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The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
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
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
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Total eligible population
About 57.5 million people
51.1 million received a jab
6.4 million have not
Where are the unvaccinated?
England 11%
Scotland 9%
Wales 10%
Northern Ireland 14%
The biog
Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah
Date of birth: 15 November, 1951
Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”
Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry
AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
