ABU DHABI // In the aftermath of a lopsided defeat Sunday night, Rashid Amir, the UAE coach, accused a majority of the players in the Fifa Under 17 World Cup of being overage.
“In my opinion, 70 per cent of them are older than the age-group competition we are playing in, and this need to be thoroughly investigated,” he said after his team’s 6-1 loss to Brazil.
“If you see the physical structure of most of the players in this competition, you are left to wonder how they are playing in this age group.”
The Emirati said there was “no comparison” in the talent between his team and Brazil after his side’s heavy defeat.
“Brazil are title contenders, and we knew from the beginning we had a very tough task,” he said.
“We had already spoken to the players to take up the defeat in good spirits.
“And for the crowd, we urge them to come and be behind us for the next game against Slovakia [on Wednesday].”
According to Amir, the FA president Yousuf Al Serkal spoke to the players in the dressing room before the game and said ”to enjoy the game against Brazil”.
“There was no pressure on the team,” Amir said. “Our next objective is to win against Slovakia, and then wait and see what happens in the other groups.”
Amir said he has already had discussions with the FA on the future of the team.
“We had only four players who had previously played in the AFC and Gulf Cup Under 16 competitions,” he said. “We are playing in the World Cup as the host team.
“The players can take this experience forward and prepare for the U19 Asian Championship in October next year.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
Company%C2%A0profile
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Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
