DUBAI // Grafite, the Al Ahli captain, said the club will be stronger from their Asian Champions League disappointment this season.
The Dubai club, so dominant domestically as they recently sealed both the Arabian Gulf League and the Arabian Gulf Cup crowns, last week experienced their first significant setback on the pitch this campaign when they lost 2-1 to Al Sadd in Qatar.
Ahli needed to avoid defeat in the final fixture in Group D to progress to the competition’s knockout stages for the first time.
However, the reverse at Doha, coupled with Al Hilal’s 1-0 win against Sepahan, resulted in the UAE champions finishing third in the tightly congested pool, with seven points from six matches.
Ahli were in a tough group, as each of their opponents are vastly experienced in Asia, with Hilal and Sadd past champions. Hilal lifted the trophy in 1999 and 2000, and Sadd won it in 2011.
Despite the frustration in failing to advance, Ahli will take heart from their contribution, especially in registering a 2-1 triumph at Sepahan in March. The victory in Iran was Ahli’s first on the road in the Champions League in 14 attempts.
Grafite insisted his teammates should be proud of their performance, and the Brazilian, who scored three goals in six Champions League matches, has backed the club to do even better when they return to the competition in 2015.
“We’re disappointed about the Champions League result because we expected to pass to the next stage, but this is football,” Grafite said. “We knew about the quality of Al Sadd and we did our best. Our group was very hard. We were playing against Al Hilal, who have won it, and Al Sadd, too. But we drew in Hilal, drew against them here and we also won against Sepahan.
“We got seven points in our group, which I believe was the strongest in the west Asian side. But we did well. It will be a good experience for us next year.”
Of course, Ahli can still conclude the season on a positive note. They face Al Ain in the President’s Cup final on May 18 and, should they win, Ahli will become the first side to seal all three domestic trophies in the same year.
“Sure, the President’s Cup is our target,” Grafite said. “Despite the Champions League, we’re still the strongest team in the UAE.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Business Insights
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
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