DUBAI // Carlo Nohra, the chief executive of the Pro League, has refuted claims by Srecko Katanec after the UAE coach blamed the Emirates' domestic set-up for hindering the success of the national team.
Katanec told The National before departing for this month's Asian Cup in Qatar that an influx in foreign forwards in the Pro League had resulted in him being forced to "choose our national team strikers from players who start league matches from the bench".
Katanec's claims have been backed up by results as the UAE failed to score in any of their games and suffered the ignominy of finishing bottom of Group D.
However, yesterday Nohra, when asked how he planned to deal with the problem, dismissed responsibility for the UAE's impotent forward-line and suggested if anybody is to blame, it is Katanec.
"First I would have to accept that this is a problem, and I don't," said Nohra, who has been the chief executive of the league since December 2009. "I don't think it's a problem, I think it is a cop out. I think he is purely pointing fingers to cover his own back. Results on football matches are dependent on a number of things, one of which is the tactical set-up the coach chooses to deploy."
Nohra pointed towards other Gulf nations in order to strengthen his argument, citing, among others, Qatar as proof that a league dominated by foreign strikers does not necessarily result in a national team that struggles for goals.
Since losing their opening match of the Asian Cup 2-0, the host nation have scored five goals in their last two games.
"I wouldn't say the current situation is ideal, but it is certainly not special to us," Nohra said. "If we look at the Asian Cup, Jordan are doing well, Syria have done respectably, and Qatar are doing well and I think they all have just as many strikers as we do."
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
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Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Series result
1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets
4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
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Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
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Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
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Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
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TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
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The Little Things
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UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
