Bigger may not always mean better but there is a feeling that the expanded 2009 Asian Champions League is going to be the best yet.
The number of nations competing has been streamlined in the name of professionalism, the number of teams has been expanded in the name of money and the number of entrants going into the knockout stage has doubled to 16 in the name of competition. What happens from now until November is anyone's guess.
Two teams instead of one will progress from the group stage and stay in the hunt for the greatly increased prize money of around US$1.5 million (Dh5.5m).
The Asian Football Confederation wants to see the tournament challenge the European version in the not-too-distant future.
That may take time but with the money as well as a place in the Club World Cup at stake, the Asian Champions league is more attractive than ever before.
The title has resided in East Asia for the last three years and for many, the main challenge will come from Japan and South Korea who now, like Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and China, have four representatives in the competition.
Gamba Osaka impressed in lifting the trophy last season and have been one of the few Japanese teams to spend over the winter, forking out big money for Cho Jae-jin of South Korean and the Brazilian Leandro. Both are forwards. Domestic rivals Kashima Antlers lifted their sixth J-league title in December and, after falling at the semi-final stage last season, are determined to transfer success at home to overseas.
Korean giants FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings fought it out for the K-league last season. Suwon, twice Asian champions, triumphed and are aiming for a third continental crown.
Seoul, a young and talented team coached by Turkey's 2002 World Cup coach Senol Gunes may be more focused on domestic issues.
Spare a thought for Singapore's Armed Forces.
The city-state's first representatives in the competition find themselves in a group with the champions of Korea and Japan as well as big-spending Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Shanghai have parted with more than $7m to sign, among others, Australia international Mark Milligan and Belarus player Vyacheslav Hleb - the brother of Barcelona's Alexander.
Tianjin Teda have also splashed the cash on Australia's Mark Bridge, Jean-Philippe Caillet from Belgium and the Italian Damiano Tommasi.
With their best players moving overseas, the two representatives from Australia, Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets are not expected to emulate the success enjoyed by last year's runners-up Adelaide United.
The A-League team defeated the Uzbekistan giants Bunyodkor on the way to the final.
The team, led by former Barcelona midfielder Rivaldo, will be confident of making it out of their group, leaving Foolad of Iran, Saudi Arabia's Ettifaq and Al Shabab of UAE fighting it out over the other spot.
After shining in early tournaments, West Asian teams have struggled of late and no team from the region were in last year's quarter-finals.
The usual suspects are aiming to right that wrong.
The Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal and Al Ittihad have both had a taste of continental success. 2008 was not the best of years for Saudi football and with the national team struggling to qualify for the 2010 World Cup final, the two titans will be looking to put the smile back on the face of Saudi soccer.
Iran are doing better and two of the biggest names and biggest rivals are back in the competition after missing out in recent years. Tehran teams Esteghlal and Persepolis regularly attract more than 70,000 to their home games at the Azadi Stadium and that imposing arena alone should see them through.
The UAE, whose Al Ain club won the first ever Asian Champions League, will be hoping that at least two of their four teams in the tournament make it through to the last 16 while Qatar's cash-rich clubs should not be underestimated.
jduerden@thenational.ae
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
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So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
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