The UAE versus Singapore in rugby: a battle to see whether our expatriates are better than their expatriates, surely?
Well, maybe not for much longer.
The national team will likely have five Emiratis in the squad for the Division One encounter at The Sevens on Wednesday. Even that total is a little bit short of what officials had hoped for. Next time around, the national quotient is likely to be somewhat larger.
Transition from an expatriate-dominated side to one with an indigenous presence is not an easy process. Maybe the two unions will be able to trade notes on the issue next week.
Both sides have sampled life at the top of Asian rugby only to see their status diminish as they sought to marry local development with on-field achievement.
Singapore replaced the demoted Arabian Gulf in the top flight of the 2009 Asian Five Nations after the side representing this region finished winless the first year the competition was staged.
Singapore immediately dropped back out of the elite division after losing all four of their matches, but they did get closer to beating Japan that many sides have ever managed in a 45-15 defeat.
They passed down through the next division, too, but are on their way back now.
The UAE will be battling to avoid a similar fate – whatever the structure of the Asian competition looks like next season, and whatever the national team looks like down the road.
[ pradley@thenational.ae ]
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
The specs
Engine: three three 212.7kWh motors
Power: 1,000bhp
Torque: 15,600Nm
Range: 530km
Price: Dh500,000+ est
On sale: early 2023
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Mountain Boy
Director: Zainab Shaheen
Starring: Naser Al Messabi
Rating: 3/5
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
More from UAE Human Development Report:
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Co Chocolat
Started: 2017
Founders: Iman and Luchie Suguitan
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Food
Funding: $1 million-plus
Investors: Fahad bin Juma, self-funding, family and friends
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)