Fancy sampling the secret potion of Asia's finest footballer? Be prepared for a questionable culinary experience. "The frog juice?" laughs Park Ji-sung. "Actually, it was disgusting."
Boiled down South Korean amphibians. The bounty of a 20-hour round-trip from Park's childhood home in Suwon to his father's rural birthplace in Go-heung county. Forcibly fed to help a slight, 14-year-old schoolboy seeking the stature and stamina required of a professional sportsman.
"My father went to catch wild frogs," Park says. "I was skinny and weak and my father heard their juice would give me size and strength. It tasted very, very bad ... but I had to drink it because I wanted to be a footballer and everyone said I needed to be bigger and stronger."
An appetite for the least palatable parts of the game has produced a footballer capable of tipping a very good team towards greatness. Park's mobility is such that for Manchester United teammate Patrice Evra "it feels like there are two or three Jis on the pitch".
He can play anywhere in the midfield, combining an ability to break unpredictably beyond opponents with prophetic defensive positioning and clean, precise tackling.
Sorely missed during a three-month mid-season absence, Park has been fundamental to a trio of wins over Chelsea in the Champions League and Premier League. From his six seasons at Old Trafford, he has taken four English titles, a Club World Cup, three League Cups, and reached three European finals, his value to United increasing by the campaign.
"He's got the discipline, intelligence and football knowledge you need in the biggest games," says Sir Alex Ferguson. "He's a fantastic professional, he moves and plays and moves again. He doesn't watch what other players are doing with the ball, he gets himself into another position so he can be involved again. He can be really important."
Park's own take on his playing style is amusing. He chuckles when presented with Ferguson's praise, talks of adopting little qualities from Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, yet balks at the idea that he's some kind of tactical obsessive.
The 30 year old neither watches much televised football, nor has any intention of graduating into club management. His reading of the game, he says, comes from doing exactly what a series of coaches of the calibre of Ferguson, Guus Hiddink, Carlos Queiroz and Pim Verbeek told him to do.
"I like tactics because I want to play," Park says. "The manager wants to show his tactics and if I do them perfectly he'll pick me. It doesn't matter how I'm asked to play, or if the football is good or bad, I like football when I'm on the pitch, not when I'm on the sidelines.
"That's why I'm always thinking of where I have to move, where I have to go, where I have to pass. I have to run a lot defensively. My performance is not only to attack, to dribble, it's all the things I have to involve myself in for the team.
"My priority is what the manager wants me to do. That's why I always have to think more tactically."
A fulcrum of the South Korea squad that reached the 2002 World Cup semi-final, a scorer at two more World Cups, and his nation's captain until retiring from internationals earlier this year following the Asian Cup, Park believes that Korean footballers are culturally predisposed to play with such strategic intelligence and team consciousness.
"The English can argue with the manager but where I grew up there is no discussion," he says. "There is no thinking about any other things, we just follow the direction of the manager. That makes us focus more on the tactics and we learn a lot. Also in our culture we have to help each other.
"In England you see players arguing 'Why aren't you in this position?' In Korea we try to say it in a polite way: 'If I go there, come here'. We don't argue; it's not possible on the pitch. It's not like 'Me, me', there are no selfish players. It's cultural differences that make us the kind of players who learn a lot."
Park's diligent energy has won him silverware in every club he's played at, including an Emperor's Cup medal in his final game at Kyoto Purple Sanga and two Dutch League titles with Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven. There have been times, though, when the studied obedience may have worked to his disadvantage.
Ferguson has said that leaving Park out of United's 2008 Champions League final victory "was the hardest decision I've ever had to make". Coming after a semi-final second-leg defeat of Barcelona in which Park covered almost 12km while shutting down Lionel Messi, it shocked. Yet may have been made easier by Park's character.
"Easier than dropping an English player?" ponders Park. "Maybe possible. Nobody knows that but it doesn't matter. He made his decision, he explained why, and our culture is to follow the manager.
"At that moment I was thinking it was not fair; I am human. When I heard it I was thinking 'Wow, I can't believe. Why me?' But I couldn't say anything, I would just upset everyone. After that I started blaming myself. The day after the match I was thinking of the future: 'If you want to play in the final you have to improve yourself.'"
Twelve months on, Park started the next Champions League final against Barcelona, confirming his status as his continent's most successful footballer and driving his celebrity to still more uncomfortable levels. When United toured Asia that summer, his teammates were surprised to find themselves travelling in an jet decorated with the features of a player who represents the likes Gillette, Nike and LG in Korea.
In his home city of Suwon there is a street named after Park, and, off that street, the Ji-sung Park Football Centre. His own brainchild, a year since its establishment the academy is training 600 local five to 12 year olds to a programme of the player's own design.
Park will visit again this close season, a period in which he expects his own future at United to be determined. With just a season left on his current contract, he would have suitors across Europe were he to be made available for transfer.
"For the moment I am focused on the Champions League final," he says. "I can think after that on my contract or my future. Man United is an important club and I am happy if I'm seen as an important part of the club. In football anything can happen, but I've been here six years and I like this club, and then my future is to decide."
sports@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
BRAZIL%20SQUAD
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Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
The%20specs
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
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ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
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6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Zayed Sustainability Prize