Ask Franz Beckenbauer, a German legend and one of the most respected figures in the history of football, what gave him the greater pleasure: captaining a World Cup-winning team or coaching one? The answer is surprising. Neither.
"Winning the World Cup is the highest achievement that you can have in football and it means the same as a captain or a coach," he said.
"But you get the chance to win the World Cup every four years, so I would rather regard my greatest achievement as bringing the World Cup to Germany in 2006 [Beckenbauer headed the country's bid]. That is something that you can perhaps do only once in your lifetime."
Germany did not capitalise on those hosting rights when they failed to win the trophy four years ago - unlike in 1974, when Beckenbauer orchestrated a triumphant campaign for West Germany in his ground-breaking role of "libero", a versatile defensive role that gave him the licence to start and join in attacks from the back. But they still managed to claim a creditable third place in 2006 to enhance an overall record of three wins and three runners-up places in football's showpiece event.
Beckenbauer, 64, known as as "Der Kaiser" all over the football world, first caught the football bug as an eight-year-old schoolboy when watching his 1954 predecessors win the original Jules Rimet trophy for the first time.
He is expecting another respectable performance from the German class of 2010 under the guidance of Joachim Loew, their coach, who must initially plot a Group D qualification route past Australia, Serbia and Ghana.
"Germany are always involved in the closing stages of World Cups so you automatically make them one of the favourites when you look at the contenders," Beckenbauer said during his recent visit to Abu Dhabi for the Laureus Sports Awards.
Beckenbauer, whose beloved Bayern Munich were recently deprived of Champions League glory by Inter Milan, said he believes the decision to take the finals to South Africa represents the best chance yet of success for a European nation outside of Europe.
Italy, the holders, were the nearest to breaking that non-winning streak when they lost on penalties to Brazil when the tournament was staged in the United States in 1994.
"We have some great teams in Europe," Beckenbauer said. "Spain are European champions and they have an excellent chance to win the World Cup for Europe along with England, France and Germany. It would be nice if a European team could win outside Europe for the first time."
While Beckenbauer is expecting his countrymen to eliminate Ghana from the World Cup reckoning, he believes there is a decent chance of an African nation reaching the quarter-finals to emulate Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002. "I hope it happens and it could do because it looks an open race this year," he said.
Germans have been complaining for 44 years about what they consider to be the officiating injustice that led to their 1966 final defeat at the hands of England. The statesmanlike Beckenbauer, who first emerged on the global scene at that tournament, is not one of them.
He refused to add his powerful voice to the lobby contending that the second of Geoff Hurst's three goals in the 4-2 extra-time triumph at London's Wembley Stadium should not have been allowed because the West Ham forward's shot did not cross the line.
He said: "It would have been good to have an extra official on the goal-line that day. But if we had used technology then nobody would be talking about 1966 today. Football is an emotional game so let's have that emotion."
Beckenbauer has been an interested observer as the game he has served so well has moved with the times.
"It is always difficult to compare players from 30 or 40 years ago with those from today," he said. "It is a totally different game. The reaction of the players was different. So was the preparation of the squad, different food, etc.
"Even the television makes it different. When I played in the 1966 final there was only one camera. Now there are so many it looks completely different. It is much more attractive to watch than in my day.
"I actually watched the 1966 final again recently - the first time for such a long while. Both teams had liberos but they were 20 or 30 yards behind.
"The pitch seemed much bigger than today. Nowadays the players try to keep the game tight and challenge their opponents to make mistakes. In our day you could stop the ball, put your foot on it and have a look around before deciding what to do. I reckon it was much easier for me to play than it is for those currently in international football."
@Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
Naga
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The five pillars of Islam
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PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
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The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
