DUBAI // The elite nations of the World Sevens Series benefit from all the modern conveniences. Some of the coaches employ GPS tracking systems to monitor the performances of their professional players in training, while others use iPad chalkboards to explain their gameplan.
The rest, however, have to be content with gathering crumbs from under the rich man's table. With no centrally contracted players, or professionals of any sort, the UAE are pinning some of their hopes for this weekend on a Sri Lankan IT consultant from Deira.
Most people have some idea of what they are getting themselves into when they play the Dubai Rugby Sevens.
However, Imad Reyal, one of the new recruits in the UAE squad, has never been to the tournament. He initially secured a residence visa when his father moved to work in Dubai four years ago, but has only been playing domestic rugby seriously for a few months.
He only happened on national team selection when some of his teammates at Dubai Exiles encouraged him to tag along with them for training.
"A couple of boys who played for the UAE told me to come along for training, so I went a couple of times, and ended up getting selected," Reyal said.
The diminutive scrum-half's pedigree may be humble, but Wayne Marsters, the UAE, believes he might have just uncovered a previously well hidden gem.
Although Reyal plays for the Exiles club which of which Marsters was in before he left to become the technical director of Iran, the national team boss did not know him until recently.
He saw a spark of inspiration on his first day in his new role as the UAE's rugby manager, when Reyal scored a solo try for the Exiles at Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
Marsters handed him a debut for the Goa leg of the Asian Sevens Series, and Reyal repaid the faith with three fine tries.
"I think with a bit of space and time on the ball, even against the big sides, I think he can surprise," Marsters said. "He has an ability to change direction at pace, which not many guys can do.
"Lots of guys are fast, and lots of guys can step, but very few can do them both at the same time."
Reyal, who turned 20 last month, grew up in Kandy, the Sri Lankan hill town. After playing cricket in his youth, and excelling as a schoolboy sprinter, he bucked the prevailing trend in the island nation by opting for rugby over cricket.
"Rugby is not very big in Sri Lanka, not as big as cricket," he said.
"When I started my higher studies, I dropped cricket as I only wanted to play rugby. I gave up everything else, because I had rugby training in the morning, then again in the evening. It was all rugby."
pradley@thenational.ae
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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
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.
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)
Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Result
Arsenal 4
Monreal (51'), Ramsey (82'), Lacazette 85', 89')
West Ham United 1
Arnautovic (64')
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
