DUBAI // Walter Zenga says the acquisition of Takayuki Morimoto, the youthful Japanese striker, is a signal of Al Nasr's long-term ambition.
Morimoto arrived at Al Maktoum Stadium at the weekend on a six-month loan contract from Catania, the Italian Serie A side.
It was in Sicily that Zenga first encountered Morimoto; the Italian manager then in his guise as Catania coach, extracting the most productive season from a player long touted as one of Japan's brightest young footballers.
Morimoto will also resume his friendship with Giuseppe Mascara, the Al Nasr frontman who, alongside the former J League star, enjoyed a prolific 2008 at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.
"He's very young, only 24 years old and shows we're thinking about the future of this club," said Zenga last night at Morimoto's official unveiling.
"For example, we have Hassan Mohammed, who is 23, Jamal Hussain, 20, Younus Abdullah, 21, and Habib Fardan, 22. It's important to build something for the future."
Zenga is confident that Morimoto can replicate the form he displayed under his tutelage at Catania, when he scored 10 times in 25 appearances.
His partnership with Mascara brought the best out of the Italian attacker, too, with the 33 year old scoring 13 that season.
Mascara has scored 10 goals in the Pro League already this term, as Nasr sit fifth in the table, only five points off second-placed Al Jazira.
"Seasons differ from one to another, but his relationship with Mascara was another advantage we thought about," Zenga said.
"We'd a great season at Catania and, of course, we hope he can give us more chance to score goals with Pepe and Bruno [Cesar].
"He is a real worker, very much in the typical Japanese style, who never gives up. I'm very lucky to have this type of player in my squad."
Morimoto can play as a deep-lying striker or out wide, although Nasr supporters may have to wait to see him in action until after tomorrow night's Etisalat Cup encounter with Al Shaab.
"My fitness is fine right now, and I'm excited about the next few months here," he said through an interpreter. "I know the manager very well and that's the reason I came here.
"The Pro League has a lot of famous players past and present, such as Luca Toni and Asamoah Gyan. I'm looking forward to playing and attempting to get as many goals as possible."
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The biog
Name: Sarah Al Senaani
Age: 35
Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2
Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism
Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding
Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier
Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish
Ten10 Cricket League
Venue and schedule Sharjah Cricket Stadium, December 14 to 17
Teams
Maratha Arabians Leading player: Virender Sehwag; Top picks: Mohammed Amir, Imad Wasim; UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan
Bengal Lions Leading player: Sarfraz Ahmed; Top picks: Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman; UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Rameez Shahzad
Kerala Kings Leading player: Eoin Morgan; Top picks: Kieron Pollard, Sohail Tanvir; UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Imran Haider
Pakhtoons Leading player: Shahid Afridi; Top picks: Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal; UAE players: Amjad Javed, Saqlain Haider
Punjabi Legends Leading player: Shoaib Malik; Top picks: Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan; UAE players: Ghulam Shabber, Shareef Asadullah
Team Sri Lanka Cricket Will be made up of Colombo players who won island’s domestic limited-overs competition
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately