The UAE Under 20 team has spent large parts of the past year away from home, but Mohammed bin Khalfan al Rumaithi has dismissed concerns that homesickness could catch up with the youngsters ahead of the World Cup in Egypt. After coming together for the Asian U19 Championships in Saudi Arabia, which they won last November, the squad have spent a lot of time on the road. They are currently training in Istanbul, Turkey, and will leave for Egypt on Thursday. Earlier this year, they had a 35-day camp in Switzerland and returned home for a short four-day break.
Al Rumaithi, president of the Football Association, thinks the youngsters are coping well with being away from home because of the camaraderie they have developed after several years together as a team. He said: "You are talking about players who are 19 and 20. They have been together for so long, they are virtually a family now. It is not a new team and this point gives me comfort. If it was a new team, maybe the players would get bored or homesick."
The FA, though, is not willing to take any chances and have made sure the families of players will be in Alexandria to support the players before they start their World Cup campaign against South Africa on September 27. "Of course they cannot stay with the team, in the same hotel. But knowing that their family members are around in the same town and attending, it will give the players that boost."
The family members will also be going to Turkey to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr with the players since they will not be returning home for it. "The World Cup is a big mission for the players and everybody believes they have to make a few sacrifices for it, for the country." added al Rumaithi. arizvi@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
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