DUBAI // Ivan Jovanovic says his Al Nasr side must show enough spirit to turnaround their recent poor run of form, beginning in Tuesday's Asian Champions League match against Sepahan.
The Dubai club have endured a difficult spell of late, winning one of their past seven fixtures. That sequence includes two defeats in five days, with Sepahan's 2-0 victory in the Group A opener in Iran last Tuesday followed by Saturday's exit from the President's Cup. Nasr, the defending champions, lost 5-4 to Sharjah.
However, Jovanovic has backed his side to bounce back from the series of setbacks, beginning with Tuesday’s return test against Sepahan at Al Maktoum Stadium.
“Of course, we are at a time that our team doesn’t have good results. This happens in football,” he said.
“Every team that believes they are a strong team need to believe and need to fight to come back with good results. It’s not only good results that make a good team, but also when you’ve bad results it’s how a team can respond.
“Tomorrow we have a new game at home and, if we want to take something from this game, we have to play much better. It’s a new challenge we face and I believe we will respond much better tomorrow than we did in Sepahan.”
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Jovanovic has overseen a remarkable improvement at Nasr since joining the club in June 2013, guiding his team to three trophies. After 26 years without a major domestic title, Nasr followed the 2014 GCC Clubs Cup crown by winning last season’s Arabian Gulf Cup and President’s Cup. It convinced the club last summer to offer Jovanovic a two-year extension to his contract.
Asked if he is beginning to feel the strain, the Serbian replied: “If you’re talking about the results on the pitch, then of course, every coach who doesn’t have good results is under pressure. But if you mean my position as Al Nasr coach, you have to be sure I don’t have this problem. I don’t feel like this.
“I work with good players, good guys, and I believe in them too much. This bad period we face now as a team only makes you stronger for the upcoming games. This is my team, I work with them. So if somebody is responsible for the team, this is me.”
Igor Stimac, the Sepahan coach, said Nasr’s current form will not impact how his side approach the match in Dubai. Last week, Sepahan were convincing winners at their Foolad Shahr Stadium.
“We are not building our positive ambitions based on the results of Al Nasr,” Stimac said. “Our optimism comes from our work. We know Nasr is a very serious opponent, a very well organised club with good players. Receiving five goals two days ago will not take us in a wrong direction.
“Tomorrow’s game will be totally different: they need to take their chance to get some points and we need to find a way to stop them doing it.”
Opposition player to watch Mohammad Reza Khalatbari
The versatile forward, in his second spell at the club, is integral to Sepahan’s chances of coming away with a result. Khalatbari knows the competition well, having scored seven goals in 25 appearances and possesses a runners-up medal, gleaned from Zobahan’s 2010 campaign. Has an eye for goal, but also for a killer pass. Can play a number of attacking positions.
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THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
FORSPOKEN
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Date started: February 2017
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Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
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Born: 1972
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The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
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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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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
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Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
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Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
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Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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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.
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- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
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Arrogate's winning run
1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016
2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016
3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016
4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016
5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016
6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017
7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017
Company%20Profile
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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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