ABU DHABI // Javier Aguirre has set his sights on qualifying for the Asian Champions League as his first objective after being officially presented as the new coach of Al Wahda on Sunday evening.
The former Mexico, Japan and Atletico Madrid manager has already been acquainted with his first-team squad and last Wednesday began pre-season training in preparation for this season's Arabian Gulf League campaign.
“Our main goal is to reach the ACL. I think this is really important,” the 56-year-old Mexican told media at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
“I know there were problems last season – having two coaches – but I am sure Wahda are a team who always play at a high standard.
“The history of Wahda shows they are a really good club. We are preparing the team for performing better.”
To bring back ACL games to the capital club Wahda would either have to win the league, finish runners-up, or win the President’s Cup. They finished fourth last season and suffered a first-round exit from the cup.
Aguirre, whose Japan side were eliminated from January’s Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage by the UAE national team, said the standard of the AGL is improving each year and is in turn attracting a higher calibre of coach and player.
“I am happy to be at Al Wahda club. This is an opportunity for me to grow as a coach,” he said.
“I had the chance to be in the UAE 30 years ago and now I am coaching Wahda. The AGL is growing and even European clubs are familiar with it. There are many players who want to play in UAE.
“Each year, more players and coaches are coming here with good experience. The local players are developing as well. I suffered a big defeat with Japan against the UAE, so I know how good they are, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a strong league.”
Aguirre, who also lists Spanish clubs Real Zaragoza and Espanyol among his former clubs, said he was excited to begin work with two of the club’s new South American recruits.
“I watched the Copa America final. Valdivia is one of the most important transfers we’ve made. He has a lot of experience. He will be very good for Wahda,” Aguirre said of the 31-year-old Chile midfielder Jorge Valdivia, who the club said last week they are poised to sign now his Copa America commitments are finished.
“Denilson is also a very good player. I remember playing against him when I was Atletico Madrid coach and he was an Arsenal player.”
apasella@thenational.ae
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Schedule
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READ MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
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
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West Asia Premiership
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Friday
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
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Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
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'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
