After UAE manager Alberto Zaccheroni named his squad for this month's training camp and friendlies against Bolivia and Egypt, John McAuley addresses the big questions that await the Italian.
As only available member of “Big Three”, will Mabkhout step up?
The announcement on Monday of Alberto Zaccheroni’s latest squad was as noteworthy for its absences as much for whom had been included.
Omar Abdulrahman will play no part, his knee surgery sidelining him long past the Asian Cup. Ahmed Khalil is missing, too, and although the striker is anticipated to return well in time for January, his persistent injury issues remain a worry.
That, then, leaves much resting on Ali Mabkhout's shoulders. Top scorer at the 2015 Asian Cup, the Al Jazira forward is recognised as the third member of the UAE’s “Big Three”. This season, he has nine goals in eight top-flight matches. However, two in six for the UAE – a double against lowly Laos – underlines his struggles with the national team.
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Read more:
Mohanad Salem: UAE will embrace the pressure of being 2019 Asian Cup hosts
Gallery: Sven-Goran Eriksson, Marcello Lippi and other high-profile managers at 2019 Asian Cup
Zuhair Bakhit: Former UAE player backs Alberto Zaccheroni to lead team at 2019 Asian Cup
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Can Mubarak prove an adequate replacement for Abdulrahman?
So, how to fill that Omar Abulrahman-shaped hole, then? The diminutive midfielder leaves a substantial void, the team’s chief conductor, the creator of something from nothing, often the supplier of the final pass or the carving of a chance for Mabkhout and Khalil, typically, to prosper.
Truth be told, Abdulrahman feels irreplaceable. As of now, though, Khalfan Mubarak seems his most obvious replacement. The Jazira playmaker boasts similar traits to Abdulrahman, his low centre of gravity allowing him to find space, his vision making clear a pass to unlock a tight defence.
This season has been particularly productive: Mubarak has four goals and eight assists in nine league matches. Abdulrahman’s absence is far from ideal. The hope is Mubarak can step into the breach.
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Read more:
John McAuley: Omar Abdulrahman injury hits UAE hard and deprives 2019 Asian Cup of a star player
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Who will cement place as Zaccheroni’s first-choice midfield partnership?
Two months out from the Asian Cup and Zaccheroni’s first-choice central midfield partnership remains undecided. As always, injuries have played their part, although for now the Italian looks to have plentiful options.
Majed Hassan and Amer Abdulrahman are still the UAE’s most talented central midfielders, the former tenacious as well as technically proficient, the latter an accomplished link between defence and attack. Both, though, have struggled with fitness these past few seasons.
Other candidates include the industrious Tariq Ahmed and Ali Salmeen, with Khamis Esmail offering experience and a real physicality in the middle – although he is some way short of his best. Al Ain’s Ahmed Barman has not progressed as expected. Hassan and Abdulrahman is the most likely engine-room pair but, still, Zaccheroni needs to commit to it.
Can any of the successful 2018 Asian Games squad stake a claim?
Zaccheroni’s squad has been burnished with a number of players from the UAE’s bronze medalists at the recent Asian Games. Ahmed Rashed, the captain in Indonesia, has been called up, alongside Al Wahda teammate and goalkeeper Mohammed Al Shamsi, Sharjah midfielder Majid Surour and Al Jazira forward Zayed Al Ameri.
At the Asian Games, Al Shamsi stood firm in penalty shootouts against Indonesia, North Korea and Vietnam, Rashid was a commendable captain, and Al Ameri scored four goals from his position on the wing.
Admittedly, while this month’s training camp looks set to form little more than a valuable learning experience for the quartet, each will be keen to impress the team’s management. Maybe, even, make a late run for Asian Cup inclusion.
Other than Mabkhout, who can help transform blunt attack?
The UAE’s problems up front are well documented. Since Zaccheroni’s appointment late last year, the team have scored nine goals in 15 matches, an arid spell that has contributed to a solitary victory in their past eight games.
Granted, Mabkhout has been off form – albeit he has played little this year – but the greatest criticism of Zaccheroni has focused on his side's inability to find the net.
As such, he will hope Ismail Al Hammadi’s recent rude health can sharpen the attack. When confident and injury-free, the winger’s capacity to commit opponents stretches defences and opens space for others. Last week, he scored twice against Wahda.
In addition, more will be expected from Mubarak, Rayan Yaslam, maybe even Mohammed Al Akbari and Ahmed Rabea. The burden isn't Mabkhout's alone.
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm - Ziyadd; 7.05pm - Barney Roy; 7.40pm - Dee Ex Bee; 8.15pm - Dubai Legacy; 8.50pm - Good Fortune; 9.25pm - Drafted; 10pm - Simsir
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Draw for Europa League last-16
Istanbul Basaksehir v Copenhagen; Olympiakos Piraeus v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Rangers v Bayer Leverkusen; VfL Wolfsburg v Shakhtar Donetsk; Inter Milan v Getafe
Sevilla v AS Roma; Eintracht Frankfurt or Salzburg v Basel; LASK v Manchester United
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Listen to Extra Time
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
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
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
SPECS
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Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
