5 good and bad moves in UAE football history



FIVE BAD MOVES

Winfried Schaefer, Al Ain

In 2009, the white-maned German, above, led the country's most decorated side to victories in all three domestic cups: President's, Etisalat and Super. But he was fired in December after only seven league matches. Al Ain were third in the league at the time.

Lufti al Benzarti, Baniyas

The taciturn Tunisian led Baniyas to promotion in 2009, then to a surprise fourth-place finish in 2010, the best in the history of the club. They were in second spot this season when he was dismissed last month. A 2-1 loss at lowly Kalba was the trigger for his firing.

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More
• Coaching carousel by Pro League football clubs is not amusing
• Al Jazira prove that continuity breeds success
• UAE Pro League clubs stubborn to shift in attitude

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Abdul Qader, Ajman

The Iraqi had driven the little club from the northern Emirates to fourth at the halfway point of the 2008/09 season, but three consecutive defeats prompted impatient executives to show him the door. Ajman finished ninth and were relegated the following season.

Sergio Farias, Al Wasl

The Brazilian led the Pohang Steelers to the 2009 Asian Champions League title and a third-place finish in the Club World Cup. However, after Wasl were knocked out of the domestic cup competitions in the semi-finals, and fell to fourth in the league, he was cast adrift.

David O'Leary, Al Ahli

The Irishman signed a three-year contract with a club in chaos and repeatedly said he would need three years to turn the team around. He was fired after 15 matches, 51 short of three seasons.

FIVE GOOD MOVES

Eid Baroot, Emirates

The unheralded Ras al Khaimah club were destined for relegation when they brought in the Emirati, above, in January 2009, and he masterminded upsets of Wahda and Shabab to bring President's Cup success.

Josef Hickersberger, Al Wahda

The Austrian was brought in as the side were struggling in December 2008, and he led them to fourth with seven victories in their final 12 matches. In his first full season he guided Wahda to their fifth league title.

Jorvan Vieira, Kalba

The side from the east coast of the country had one point from eight matches when the Brazilian was appointed in December. They have 13 points from nine matches since. They may not avoid relegation, but at least they have a fighting chance.

Alexandre Gallo, Al Ain

The team were clearly flatlining – on 11 points from 11 matches – when Gallo took over. After a slow start, the Brazilian coaxed seven points from three league matches, and Al Ain have moved clear of trouble.

Abdulhameed al Mishtiki, Al Ain

The third coach at Al Ain in 2009/10 finished the season with a five-game winning streak to secure third place and a shot at qualification for the Asian Champions League. Despite reaching the group stage with a two-legged victory, things have not gone as well this season, but that does not erase his success last spring.

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

BlacKkKlansman

Director: Spike Lee

Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver 

Five stars

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Shahi

Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan

Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.

Favourite activities: Bungee jumping

Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

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Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

Profile of VoucherSkout

Date of launch: November 2016

Founder: David Tobias

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers

Sector: Technology

Size: 18 employees

Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake

Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars” 

RESULT

Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: 
Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now

Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
World Cup final

Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region

Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat

Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press 

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Results

5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m

Winner Spirit Of Light, Clement Lecoeuvre (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer)

6.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner Bright Start, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor

6.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 2,000m

Winner Twelfthofneverland, Nathan Crosse, Satish Seemar

7.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Imperial Empire, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

7.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m

Winner Record Man, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

8.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,600m

Winner Celtic Prince, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

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