Marius Sumudica has said earlier that he was not getting the performance as desired from players he was asked to pick. Satish Kumar / The National
Marius Sumudica has said earlier that he was not getting the performance as desired from players he was asked to pick. Satish Kumar / The National

Shaab coach sacked in seventh casualty of Arabian Gulf League this season



SHARJAH // a

Marius Sumudica has been dismissed as coach by Al Shaab, bringing to seven the number of Arabian Gulf League coaches, from 14 who started the season, to be released before the midpoint of the fixtures.

Shaab enter the 10th round of competition rooted to the bottom of the table, on four points, and Sumudica’s ouster had been expected.

He seemingly sensed he was in his last days when, before Shaab’s President’s Cup match with Al Dhaid this week, he said he would no longer take the blame for the club’s performance.

“The problem of Al Shaab is not the coach but the players,” he said. “There are calls to give opportunities to certain players and when I give them a chance, they do not perform to the desired level.”

Sumudica’s fate perhaps was sealed when his club drew 2-2 with Dhaid on Monday, a second-division side, then were ousted 6-5 from the President’s Cup in a shoot-out.

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Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

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