ABU DHABI // The finish line to a four-year journey is in sight, Mahdi Ali said, and he urged his players to seize their chance today and for UAE fans to be their witnesses.
The country’s Under 23 football team play Australia at 5.30pm at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in the second-last group match in qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.
Two victories will gain them a place in the Summer Games for the first time and would rank behind only the 1990 World Cup appearance as the biggest achievement in UAE football history.
Ali began coaching these players in 2008, when they won the Under 19 Asian Cup in Dammam. He said the London 2012 Olympics were a distant goal, back then, one that only now has come into focus.
“We have a great chance to make this happen for the first time in the history of the UAE,” he said. “I think this is a big, big, big, big thing for the fans, the officials, the coaches, the players and staff, and I think we have to fight for this hope.
“Chances don’t come all the time. Sometimes you have only one chance, and you must fight to get it.”
The UAE cannot clinch a London berth today, nor can they be eliminated from contention; the decisive match will be in Uzbekistan on March 14. But the team certainly can ease their path to London by defeating Australia, who have their own slim chance still of advancing.
“All the players are ready,” said Mohammed Ahmed, the team captain. “We have played for many championships, and we think we are 100 per cent ready.”
Goals likely will come dear: the UAE have one in four matches; Australia have none. The UAE are on eight points from four matches: two scoreless draws, including one at Adelaide in September; a victory over Iraq 17 days ago, and a forfeit victory over Iraq from November, when the visitors used an ineligible player and a 2-0 UAE defeat became, two weeks ago, a 3-0 UAE victory.
Mahdi Ali">The line-up that won in Doha thanks to Ahmed Ali's goal could see several changes. A trio of players who typically have been in first XI did not play in the 1-0 victory but are now available: the Lyon defender Hamdan Al Kamali, the Al Ahli striker Ahmed Khalil and the Al Ain midfielder Omar Abdulrahman.
Amer Abdulrahman, the Baniyas midfielder and orchestrator of the UAE attack, injured his foot in a match with the Chinese club Dalian last week and his availability will not be known until just before the match, Ali said.
He said Australia are a formidable opponent. “They are a big team, and we’ve played against them many times, going back to the Asian Cup semi-finals in Dammam in 2008. The Australia team is in good shape, and they play rugby-style football.”
Ali said his strategy will not be impacted by the result of the match between Uzbekistan and Iraq last night, won 2-1 by Iraq.
come to support the team">He called on UAE fans to turn out in force for the match despite its early starting time. The stadium holds more than 45,000; it can seem nearly empty even with 10,000 inside.
“Anyone who loves his country will come no matter the time,” Ali said.
“We played against Iraq, and the Iraqi fans were more than the UAE fans. Whoever likes his country will need no invitation.”
poberjuerge@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300