DUBAI // Diego Maradona rocked up late on his return to Al Wasl, but in truth he could have skipped the match and headed straight to the post-match reunion with old friends.
The Argentine, invited back to the club he managed for 14 manic months across 2011 and 2012, took his seat alongside Rashid Belhoul, the Wasl chairman, on Saturday for his former side’s Arabian Gulf League match against Dubai club, then probably quickly realised it was a grave error of judgement.
Such was the fare on show, Maradona could have stayed home and caught the highlights on his flat screen, although he may have struggled to find any.
The strange thing was, there was much to play for, especially where the visitors to the Zabeel Stadium were concerned. Dubai are the division’s bottom side, with two victories from 20 attempts, and are rapidly running out of time to secure their top-flight status.
Following an insipid stalemate here, they have six matches to save their season. Seven points from safety, it appears an unlikely venture. Wasl, too, have something to prove, given a frustrating campaign has prompted another swirl of managers and a completely new board.
With a transitional summer ahead, players are surely playing for their futures. Tenth position, as they sit now, is not good enough for a club with seven UAE league titles – the second highest in the country – and there was little against Dubai to suggest a change of fortune anytime soon.
Perhaps old Diego, albeit far from his vintage, would have been better off pulling out his boots and lending a hand. After all, he hasbefore. The smattering of Wasl supporters seemed to agree, for when they found rare voice, all that could be heard echoing around the stadium was "Maradona, Maradona, Maradona".
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
