With the 2017 Asian Champions League commencing this week, John McAuley casts an eye over the opponents of Al Ahli, Al Jazira, Al Ain and Al Wahda in their respective groups.
GROUP A - AL AHLI
■ Lokomotiv: Won a first Uzbek league title last season to go with the Uzbek Cup, while they reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, defeating Al Hilal along the way. Eventually eliminated by Al Ain. Key men include captain Timur Kapadze and midfielder Kakhi Makharadze, however, Lokomotiv have recently sold several high-profile players.
■ Al Taawoun: Finished fourth in the Saudi Pro League last season to seal a first Champions League berth, while they are currently sixth this year. Managed by former Romania international Constantin Galca, his key men include captain, and assist expert, Jehad Al Hussain and intelligent defender Talal Al Absi.
■ Esteghlal: The Iranian giants are back in the competition following a three-year absence, courtesy of last season's third-placed domestic finish. Then defeated Qatar's Al Sadd on penalties in the play-off. Two-time Asian champions, but long before the tournament was rebranded, key men include goalkeeper and captain Mehdi Rahmati and experienced defender Khosro Heydari. Currently third in the Iranian league.
GROUP B – AL JAZIRA
■ Lekhwiya: The Qatar club ensured their place in the Champions League by securing the Emir Cup last season. Have twice reached quarter-finals, in 2013 and 2015, while last year they exited at the last-16 stage. Key men include Karim Boudiaf in midfield and Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi. Currently second in the Qatar Stars League.
■ Esteghlal Khuzestan: The Iranians embark on a first foray into the Champions League after winning their domestic title last season for the first time, via goal difference. Key men include captain Mohammed Tayyebi, who marshals the defence, and midfielder Hassan Beyt Saeed, whose goals fired them to the Iran top-flight crown. Currently eighth in the table now, though.
■ Al Fateh: Contesting the Champions League for a second time, the Saudis finished fifth domestically last season and required a play-off against Uzbekistan's Nasaf, which they won 1-0. In 2014, they collected only two points from their group. Key men include captain Hamdan Al Hamdan and Brazilian striker Nathan Junior. Currently second bottom in the Saudi Pro League.
GROUP C – AL AIN
■ Al Ahli Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's best team last season, clinching a third top-flight title. Have serious credentials in the Champions League too, finishing runners-up in 2012, although did not make it past the group stage last time out. Managed by the imitable Christian Gross, their key men include prolific Syrian Omar Al Somah and captain Taisir Al Jassim. Currently fourth domestically.
■ Zobahan: Back in the competition after retaining the Hazfi Cup, the Iranians are looking to improve further on last season's Champions League campaign. Cruised through their group unbeaten, but then exited to Al Ain in the next round. Key men include veteran captain Mehdi Rajabzadeh and forward Morteza Tabrizi. Currently fourth in the Iranian top flight.
■ Bunyodkor: Perennial qualifiers, the Uzbeks needed a penalty shoot-out victory against El Jaish to make the groups. Now dreaming of another run in the competition, although they have struggled to replicate the semi-final runs of 2008 and 2012. Key men include goalscoring midfielder Dostonbek Khamdamov, the 2015 Asian Young Player of the Year, and promising striker Eldor Shomurodov.
GROUP D – AL WAHDA
■ Al Hilal: Genuine continental heavyweights, the two-time Asian champions ensured qualification by finishing runners-up in last season's Saudi Pro League. Were runners-up too in the 2014 Champions League, then semi-finalists in 2015, before a disappointing last-16 exit last year. Key men include Brazilian forward Carlos Eduardo and brilliant right-back Yasser Al Shahrani. Currently lead the Saudi top flight.
■ Al Rayyan: The Qataris are back after a three-year absence courtesy of last season's Qatar Star League title. They will need to improve on their continental record, though: in six previous attempts, Rayyan have never progressed from the groups. Managed by Michael Laudrup, their key men include captain and goalscoring midfielder Rodrigo Tabata and striker Sergio Garcia. Currently third domestically.
■ Persepolis: Lost the Iranian top-flight title on goal difference last season, but return to the Champions League after a one-year absence. Best performance in Asia has been last-16 qualification in 2009, 2012 and 2015. Key men include prolific striker Mehdi Taremi and captain Jalal Hosseini, the reliable defender. Currently top the Iranian league.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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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
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
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Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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BLACK%20ADAM
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