ABU DHABi // Josef Hickersberger is 61, but experience is no remedy for homesickness. He celebrated the arrival of his fifth grandchild last month and on returning to Abu Dhabi, admitted to badly missing his family. But now the Austrian manager has banished those blues and is focused on leading Al Wahda to some silverware this season.
"We celebrated the new addition in the family on June 10 and it was with a heavy heart I left this time. It takes a few days and then it's back to work as usual," said Hickersberger.
Hickersberger believes he has a stronger squad than last season after the club signed the Brazilian striker Fernando Baiano, the top scorer in the UAE game's first professional season, on a new three-year contract, and goalkeeper Mutaz Abdulla, who arrives from Al Ain on a two-year deal.
"We have a much stronger squad with the addition of Baiano and Mutaz," admitted the Austrian, who had the rare honour of playing in the 1978 World Cup finals as a player and leading his country in the 1990 event as coach.
"We finished far behind the top three teams in the league, in fourth. But this season, I hope, we not only want to play better but win something."
Wahda have six UAE internationals, including Ismail Matar, and it was quite disappointing for a team of such quality to be trophyless for the last three years.
Hickersberger added: "It was the first time that I took over a side in the middle of a season. It was difficult because I didn't know the players. The team was not in the right shape and frame of mind. They were struggling at the time. And to be honest, I almost lost the job.
"The club chairman, Sheikh Saeed, has been patient with me and he has given me more time to show better results. Otherwise I would have got the sack. I am very realistic about it. I know how it works here."
Hickersberger was given a new one-year deal after he led Wahda to the Etisalat Cup final and earned a play-off berth in next year's Asian Champions League because of the club's fourth-placed league finish.
Baiano and Mutaz will fill voids that have been felt for a long time, both in attack and the defence.
Hickersberger continued: "We didn't have a decent striker last season. We analysed and discussed where we need to fit in the new players. We wanted someone who can put the ball in the back of the net and Baiano fits in that bill. The goalkeeper Ismail Rabea, showed a lot of promise in the cup games, but lost his shape during the season and then lost his confidence. We have five men to choose from and we'll see who comes out well."
Wahda leave for a three-week training camp in Germany tonight. They will play six friendlies there and five more upon their return on Aug 16. The new season kicks off with the President's Cup preliminaries on Aug 27 and the Pro League from Sep 25.
apassela@thenational.ae
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
POWERWASH%20SIMULATOR
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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.
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
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
Company%20Profile
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The%20Last%20White%20Man
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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.
Company%20profile
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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.
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DAY%20ONE%20RESULT
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
The five pillars of Islam
Company%20Profile
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