Farhad Kazemi, the Sepahan coach, is banking on his side's experience to see the Iranians qualify from Group D ahead of the UAE's Al Shabab.
All four teams have three points after winning their home games, but Kazemi believes his players and those from Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor have the edge ahead of the meeting between the two sides today.
"Sepahan are an experienced team in Asian games, as are Bunyodkor, and in our group, this experience will give us both the edge against Ettifaq and Al Shabab in qualifying for the next round," he said.
Hosts Bunyodkor will have first-choice goalkeeper Murod Zukhurov back in action for the meeting in Uzbekistan.
And interim coach Hikmat Irgashev will also be able to call on Asian Player of the Year Server Djeparov from the start after leaving him out of the XI for the 2-0 domestic win against Lokomotiv Tashkent on Saturday. "We are glad to have Murod back in the squad," said Irgashev. "He was not fit enough to face Al Shabab, but he is now ready to return against Sepahan and hopefully with him in the side, we will be able to win to delight the home fans."
Elsehwere, the Gamba Osaka manager Akira Nishino has challenged his players to take maximum points in their upcoming double-header against Sriwijaya and book a place in the quarter-finals. The defending champions take on Sriwijaya at Expo '70 Commemoration Park today in Group F. Gamba have scored seven goals in their opening two matches and will fancy getting a sackful more against a Sriwijaya side who have leaked nine goals in their first two games.
First-choice keeper and Indonesia international Ferry Rotishinu is still sidelined and stand-in Afriyanto broke his leg in the 4-2 defeat by FC Seoul.
* Agencies
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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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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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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
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