Having declared the UAE to be his “second home”, Diego Maradona has pledged his support for Mahdi Ali’s Emirati side after watching them qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia by beating Hong Kong 4-0 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
The Argentine, who shared player of the century honours with Pele, believes that the quality of the players in the squad as well as the recent run of results makes them one of the top contenders to win the 2015 Cup.
“I was very impressed with Omar Abdulrahman’s skills, and cheered when he scored the third goal because he’s a player who makes it look easy,” Maradona told the Football Association. “He has no problems scoring, not to mention the amount of chances that he creates for his teammates. He plays a big role for the team. I congratulate him on his skills and call on him to keep it up.”
He had praise for the whole of the side, too.
“I predict a big future for this team,” he said. “They have proved themselves and I’m very happy with their standard. The important thing is that they continue this improvement, and keep raising their expectations so they can achieve even more.”
Maradona has lived in Dubai since the summer of 2011, when he arrived to coach Al Wasl.
He was seen smiling and signing autographs at the end of the Friday match, and he said his presence in Abu Dhabi was due to his support for the Emirati side.
“I believe in this team, I trust this team, and I will remain loyal to them by attending all their matches,” the ambassador for Dubai Sports Council said. “I have met [UAE Football Association President] Yousuf Al Serkal and pledged my total support for the team, and for Emirati football in general.”
Maradona also revealed his strength of feeling for the country as a whole, and not just its football scene.
“The UAE is my second home, and my support of for the team is symbol of my loyalty to this welcoming and generous country,” he said.
“Football here is heading in the right direction, and the senior team is advancing steadily on the world stage. Ambitions should not stop at the Asian Cup but extend to reaching the 2018 World Cup, because this generation of players has the talent to achieve this.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
