It was the first match of Day 4 at the 2014 Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup in Dubai and the last one the UAE had wanted to take part in.
With no wins in three pool matches, the UAE had finished bottom of Group A. It meant a showdown with Japan in the afternoon sun for the opportunity to go for fifth place on the last day of the eight-team tournament at Dubai International Marine Club.
It all had an unmistakable sense of anti-climax. Instead of an evening under the floodlights in a packed stadium, they had only a handful of fans in the stands. Still, this was knockout football of sorts.
Not that the team had performed poorly. On the contrary, it had been a tournament of fine margins for the Emiratis.
In the first match against Morocco, they had performed heroically to overturn a three-goal deficit in the final third only to lose 4-3 to the last kick of the match. They then lost 2-1 to Iran and 3-2 to Portugal.
“The first three matches we had played very well,” coach Gustavo “Guga” Zloccowicz said. “The players gave everything. But our lack of experience is why we lost. We are playing against some of the top teams in the world, like Portugal and Iran. We had control of those matches and we closed them down well, but the young players, sometimes they don’t know how to hold out, how to win the game.”
With a place in the semi-finals long gone, the coach had to lift his players to prove they were the best of the rest. It was not easy.
The match initially reflected its sleepy surroundings, uneventful until Japan took the lead late in the first period. For the fourth match running, the UAE had failed to score in the first 12 minutes. However, the match, and their luck, would turn.
Led by star striker and captain Ali Karim, the team came out fighting. They threatened with a few long range shots before the next goal was scored by Japan in the sixth minute of the period, thanks to Shotaro Haraguchi’s close-range finish.
From the restart, the UAE’s Karim was on the end of a flick and his stunning volley dipped into the Japanese net. The comeback was on.
Throughout the tournament the UAE had shown their best form in the final period, and this match proved no different. Except this time there would be tangible reward.
The equaliser came five minutes into the period, Ali Ansari scoring with a stunning overhead kick.
This was more like the comeback kids from the opening day. There may not have been many Emiratis in the stand, but the scattered crowd began to throw its support behind the Whites as the sun started to sink. After surviving a couple of scares, Guga’s boys sensed a first win and cranked up the pressure to produce a dramatic finale.
With four minutes left, a tired Japanese defence gave away a penalty. Up stepped Ahmed Beshr to slot home to put the UAE 3-2 ahead, the first time the home side had led in a match.
With a first victory in sight, tension crept in and the Emirati defence was breached with just over two minutes left. A penalty shoot-out looked odds on.
Not for the first time, Karim saved the day. As the clock ticked towards full-time, he was awarded a free kick from just inside the Japan half. His shot flew past Terukina Shingo. Guga punched the air. There was no way back for Japan.
“The players had a lot of focus,” he said. “Even when we were losing, they came back like they did against Morocco. They didn’t give up and were not afraid to follow up their attacks.”
What threatened to be a lifeless match turned out to be one of the tournament’s most exciting. The reaction of the Emirati players and staff at the final whistle showed just what it meant to win a knockout match and progress to the fifth-place game today.
The coach, though, could not hide his disappointment at not making it to the last four.
“Our expectations were high. We can beat the other teams, we’re at the same level,” Guga said. “After we lost to Iran we didn’t have a chance [to get to the semi-final], so I said to the players we must get the best position we can.
“We are learning, but we can learn from winning, too. It’s not good to just learn from losing.”
Their opponents in the final match tonight will be Morocco, with the chance of another thriller and a fifth-place finish.
This time at least, Guga will be pleased. They will not kick off before the sun has gone down.
RUSSIA TO FACE BRAZIL IN FINAL
There were plenty of goals again at the 2014 Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup as the penultimate day’s action saw the two finalists and the order of play decided.
In the first of the semi-finals at Dubai International Marine Club, world champions Russia defeated the reigning Intercontinental Cup holders Iran 4-3 to exact some revenge for losing last year’s final to the same opponents.
The Russians raced into a four-goal lead by the end of the second period and looked to be coasting to the final.
Iran then almost pulled off the comeback of the tournament, scoring three times in a frantic third period and nearly scoring a last-minute equaliser in front of a large and noisy contingent of their compatriots.
In the night’s final match, Brazil beat Portugal 5-3 in another exciting match, which often turned nasty.
Portugal striker Madjer, who plays for Al Ahli in Dubai, scored a sensational left-footed volley but next year’s Beach Soccer World Cup hosts never got close enough to a gifted Brazilian team in the final period.
In the dying seconds, the Portuguese forward Nuno Miguel Belchoir was dismissed for punching Brazilian captain Bruno Xavier on the side of the head.
The two had to be separated after the final whistle.
Brazil will face Russia in tonight’s final, while Portugal and Iran clash for third place.
The UAE had dramatically defeated Japan 4-3, overcoming a 2-0 deficit, in the first match of the day and Morocco produced a display of high-quality finishing to beat the United States 7-3.
Defender Faycel Al Karkouri scored twice for the winners.
The two results mean the host nation will face Morocco in the fifth-place play-off match, and Japan and the US will play for the right to finish seventh, in the first match of the day.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
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.
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
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
