Jose Sand is proving to be worth his weight in goals for Al Ain and is looking to be worth every dirham the Pro League club paid to outbid Valencia, the Spanish giants, for his signature.
Last season, Sand topped the scoring chart with 34 goals in all competitions. He is also this season's leading scorer in the league with five goals from three games.
Al Ain snatched Sand from the grasp of Valencia when he was put up for sale by Lanus, the Argentine club, where he scored 51 goals in 68 matches over two seasons from 2007. He also became the first player to top the scoring in two consecutive tournaments since Diego Maradona in 1980.
His performances led to Sand winning two internationals caps for Argentina: in a World Cup qualifier against Chile in October, 2008 and in a friendly against Panama in May, 2009.
He feels he made the right move coming to the UAE. "I don't think I have any regrets," he said. "I have had a wonderful season here and am looking forward to another with a trophy or two."
Al Ain reportedly paid US$10 million (Dh36.7m) for Sand, who signed on a two-year deal and played under three different coaches in his first season at the club.
One was Winfried Schaefer, with whom he started by winning the Super Cup, the curtain-raiser match between the league champions and the winner of the President's Cup.
The German was sacked in December and replaced by Toninho Cerezo, the Brazilian. He too was fired, and Al Ain decided to appoint Abdulhameed al Mishtiki, the club's Under 17 team coach, to take charge as caretaker. The Emirati kept the job after leading them in five matches without defeat and a third-place finish in the league and a play-off place in the Asian Champions League.
"It doesn't matter with whom I work," Sand said. "I know my job and I can work under any coach. I carry out the orders from whoever is in charge. I also don't care with whom I play. I play for a team and I want to give 100 per cent and my team win all the trophies."
Sand established wonderful partnerships with Jorge Valdivia, the Chile midfielder, and Marcio Emerson, the Brazilian forward, in his first season at the club. But both his fellow expatriates decided to leave, and their replacements, the Ivorians Ibrahima Keita and Jomma Saeed, are sidelined with injuries.
It has not prevented Sand from scoring though.
"We shouldn't undermine the contributions of the Emirati players," he said. "They play a big role, as much as the foreign players, and they have been able to provide me a steady supply inside the box.
"The three games and the President's Cup opening round have gone well for us, and it's just a matter of continuing the good work. The next against Al Wahda is a very tough one, but we are confident."
Sand grew up wanting to emulate Gabriel Batistuta, the Argentine striker who played in 78 games and scored 56 goals for his country from 1991 to 2002.
"He was my role model and I wanted to play like him," Sand said. "I couldn't match his playing style but I succeeded in becoming a striker, strong inside the box."
Sand leads a modest lifestyle and does not believe in extravagant clothing or flashy cars. His sole pastime, besides spending time with his wife and 20-month-old son, Benjamin, is owning and breeding race horses.
"I like to watch the races in Dubai but don't get the chance because we either play or train on those days," he said.
"I spend most of the free time with my wife and son in the malls around the country. My wife is a great cook and she does my favourite dishes, barbecues.
"Sometimes I meet up with my colleagues at the club and join them for a fun outing or dinner. I enjoy their company. I have a problem in communicating with them, but I don't feel out of place because they always make me comfortable in their company."
Sand played a significant role in helping Lanus win their first Argentine league in his first season, in 2007, scoring 15 goals in 15 games. He became a crowd favourite and the fans nicknamed him "Pepe". He looks back fondly on his time in Argentina.
"I hope to continue that form with Al Ain and it has been so-far-so-good for me. But my performance alone will not satisfy me if my club will not win any trophies."
@Email:apassela@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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
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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 banned).
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.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
FIGHT INFO
Men’s 60kg Round 1:
Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1
Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
