The biggest talking points ahead of this week’s AGL action.
Focus for Al Ahli?
Such has been Ahli’s success in the Asian Champions League that their domestic league programme has played second fiddle this season.
Subsequently, the Dubai side are playing catch-up: entering Round 5, they have taken part in just two league fixtures, winning both. This week, though, provides the opportunity to be front-runners.
With Ahli’s Champions League second-leg match against Al Hilal next Tuesday, their home match with Sharjah has been moved forward two days to today.
Yet it remains to be seen if Ahli can concentrate on that when, five days later, they have arguably the biggest match in their history.
Their team selection will be interesting. Thankfully, they have summer signing Rodrigo Lima in fine form: the Brazilian scored twice in the league cup against Al Nasr on Saturday to take his tally to 10 goals in eight appearances.
Braga needs a win
It is too early in the season to write off anyone, but Al Jazira’s supposed title challenge does not seem like materialising anytime soon.
The capital club were one of the summer’s big spenders, bringing back former coach Abel Braga and recruiting Thiago Neves, Jefferson Farfan and Park Jong-woo, an outlay that justifiably raised expectations for the season ahead.
However, Jazira have begun badly, winning two of six matches in all competitions.
On Saturday, an admittedly second-string side lost to Al Shabab in the cup, while their last league outing resulted in a shock 4-2 defeat to Dibba.
Braga has complained about his leaky defence, vowing to correct a problem that he says stretches back to when he left the club, in 2011. Jazira face Shabab again tomorrow, this time in the league.
The remit is clear: three points are a must.
ALSO:
Part 1 and Part 2 of our three-day series on UAE's top 25 footballers
AGL Week 4 in review: Draws galore but Dibba fight back to earn famous win over Al Jazira
Task eases for Dhafra
In recent seasons, Al Dhafra have been one of the less-celebrated success stories in the UAE top flight. Having earned promotion in 2012, they recorded successive eighth-place finishes before concluding the 2014/15 campaign in 11th.
It represents an excellent return for the modest club almost hidden away in the country’s Western Region. This season, though, has been tough.
At present, Dhafra sit second bottom, having gleaned a solitary point from a possible 12. However, there lies a caveat: in those four matches, they have faced champions Al Ain, a resurgent Al Nasr and Champions League semi-finalists Al Ahli.
The next few weeks should provide the opportunity to kick-start their season: Dhafra travel to Fujairah on Saturday, then take on Emirates and Baniyas at home.
On Friday, they secured their season’s first victory with the 3-1 cup win against Al Shaab. Onwards and upwards.
Nilmar’s spark missing
On the face of it, there does not seem to be too much wrong at Al Nasr. The Dubai club, last year’s President’s Cup and Arabian Gulf Cup winners, sit top of the league after three victories and a draw.
Yet their early success has masked Nilmar’s poor goal return. The Brazilian, signed this summer from Internacional, has scored once in eight appearances for his new club, while he is yet to find the net in the league.
What is more, he has struggled to lead the line; diminutive and dainty, Nilmar seems better suited to a supporting role.
Admittedly, he needs time to adjust, but so far the signs have not been promising.
Nasr host Al Wahda on Saturday, a fixture that begins a run of matches predominantly against the division’s best clubs.
If Nilmar were to start finding his feet, then it would prove a timely interjection.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at NatSportUAE
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Company%C2%A0profile
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
How%20champions%20are%20made
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EDiet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7am%20-%20Protein%20shake%20with%20oats%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E10am%20-%205-6%20egg%20whites%0D%3Cbr%3E1pm%20-%20White%20rice%20or%20chapati%20(Indian%20bread)%20with%20chicken%0D%3Cbr%3E4pm%20-%20Dry%20fruits%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%20-%20Pre%20workout%20meal%20%E2%80%93%20grilled%20fish%20or%20chicken%20with%20veggies%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E8.30pm%20to%20midnight%20workout%0D%3Cbr%3E12.30am%20%E2%80%93%20Protein%20shake%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20intake%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204000-4500%20calories%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaidu%E2%80%99s%20weight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20110%20kg%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStats%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Biceps%2019%20inches.%20Forearms%2018%20inches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
