‘Golden generation’ legacy weighs heavily on UAE at Asian Games

Manager trying to downplay comparisons to 2010 Guangzhou squad as men's football competition starts

Sultan Bargash, left, of the UAE in action against South Korea during a warm-up match for the Asian Games. Courtesy UAE FA

Manager Mahdi Ali raised the bar by leading the UAE to a historic silver medal at the Asian Games in China in 2010, and his successor Ali Ibrahim has the tough task of matching it in South Korea.

Mahdi Ali’s so-called “golden generation” squad, who now make up most of the UAE national team, make for a rough comparison.

“The expectations will be high to match that record performance, but we have to be realistic about the team that won the silver medal four years ago and the team that’s trying to emulate that feat,” Ibrahim said.

The Asian Games tournament is similar to the Olympics, with an Under 23 squad being supplemented by three overage players.

“Even the overage players in this squad had to be selected from those left behind from the senior national team preparing for the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup. But that doesn’t belittle our hopes of going for a medal,” said Ibrahim.

“There is no doubt of this team’s abilities. The sky is the limit for them, but we must also consider the realities. At this point, our objective will be to take one game at a time and go as far as possible in the competition.”

The UAE held two camps in Germany and Switzerland during the summer. The Under 23 Gulf Cup, in which they were set to play last month, was cancelled, so the team left for the Asian Games venue two weeks early.

They played three friendly matches in South Korea, winning against two local sides and before losing to their Korean counterparts 2-1 in the final game.

The UAE start their campaign on Monday with a seemingly easy first hurdle against India in the first of their two Group G games. Jordan are up next on Thursday.

Saeed Al Kathiri, the captain and a member of the silver medal-winning team in China four years ago, is not taking anything for granted against India.

“First of all, they are an unknown side,” he said. “So we need to be careful in what we do. We don’t want to make the mistake of thinking that we have already won the first game.

“As for our preparation, there is nothing to complain about. The technical staff have done all they could and now it is up to the players to execute the plans.”

Al Kathiri, 26, is one of the three overage players in the squad, along with Sultan Bargash and Bandar Al Ahbabi.

“To be a member of that medal-winning team was an exhilarating experience for me. I am now here to share that experience with the rest of my squad,” Al Kathiri said.

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