BUENOS AIRES // Diego Maradona has conceded he had to move to the UAE to resume his coaching career and suggested Sergio Batista should resign as the coach of Argentina.
Maradona, 50, will start his two-year contract as the coach of Al Wasl on August 1, his first job since his contract with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) expired after last year’s World Cup.
“I had to go to Dubai to find a job, unfortunately, far from my country,” Maradona said.
There have been calls for the World Cup winning captain to replace Batista following Argentina’s early Copa America exit.
The AFA say they will keep Batista on as coach despite their quarter-final loss on penalties to Uruguay.
But Maradona said the decision is foolhardy.
“If I had only beaten Costa Rica, [Argentina’s sole Copa success] I would have gone of my own accord,” Maradona told Radio Belgrano.
“What is happening right now is not the fault of the players. Julio Grondona [the AFA president] is doing just what he likes.”
Just over a week before Maradona arrives in the UAE, the Wasl players will start training at the club’s newly-renovated training pitch and gymnasium.
The majority of the squad underwent medical tests yesterday in preparation for their twice a day training sessions.
Joining the squad for the first time on Sunday will be their new signings Edson Puch, the Chilean international midfielder, along with Fahad Masoud, Ali Rabih, Mubarak Hassan and Hamad Al Hosani.
Wasl’s season will start in mid-September when the team will compete in the Etisalat Cup against Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Dubai Club, Al Ain, and new entrants, the Emirates Club, in Group A.
Al Wasl’s first match in the UAE professional league will take place on October 14 at the Zabeel Stadium against Sharjah.
* Compiled by The National staff with agency
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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Started: August 2020
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
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.
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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
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Uefa Champions League final:
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