The President’s Cup semi-finals take place on Friday and Saturday, with the country’s top two teams involved in the battle for a place in the showpiece. John McAuley has the details.
Formidable four
UAE champions Al Ahli face a rejuvenated Al Jazira at Al Ain's Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night, while 24 hours later Al Ain and Baniyas go head-to-head at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Given their recent success, Ahli are favourites to make the final, where they are expected to meet Al Ain, their fierce rivals who finished second in the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League.
• John McAuley: 'We cannot be satisfied': Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic rues late Zobahan goal
Standout fixture
Ahli’s clash with Jazira looks like the most interesting of the two ties, with the AGL winners, beaten in the past two President’s Cup finals, taking on the in-form capital club. Asian Champions League troubles aside, Jazira won seven of their final league matches to climb to seventh in the table. They will also seek to use as inspiration from last week’s incredible quarter-final victory against Sharjah, when they twice came back from two goals down to eventually triumph on penalties.
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Respecting the opponent
“We’ll try to give all efforts to pass this game and go to the final,” said Cosmin Olaroiu, the Ahli manager. “It will not be easy: Jazira are improving a lot in the last month, they are playing much better, up front have players of huge qualities and individuals that can decide the game. We have to pay attention and be fully concentrated. We expect a difficult game and we hope that we find the right solution to get past Jazira.”
• John McAuley: Al Ahli's Everton Ribeiro 'hungry' for more trophies in UAE and Asian Champions League
Achieving the ‘impossible’
“Ahli are the best team in the league, they won the championship by miles from the rest,” said Henk ten Cate, the Jazira manager. “If we’re honest, they have more quality, but we are very difficult to beat. It’s a cup game, anything can happen. Look at the FA Cup, Crystal Palace are in the final, so anything is possible. It’s not always the best team that goes to the final. On Friday, one of two very good teams are going out with nothing.”
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Company%20profile
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
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INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
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
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.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Avatar%3A%20The%20Way%20of%20Water
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