With Monday's opening defeat against Japan mostly of their own doing, Ahmed Khalil, the UAE captain, is convinced his team can go beyond the group stage at the Asian Under 19 Championship in Zibo, China.
An own goal and a bad fumble from Ahmed Mohammed, the goalkeeper, saw the youngsters lose 2-1 to Japan in their first Group C match. Such is the rapid turnaround of games at the tournament that they meet Jordan today (KO 1.30pm) with a quick chance to make amends. Japan play Vietnam earlier in the day.
"Sometimes we must be happy the mistakes were made so early in the competition," said Khalil, who was the top scorer when the UAE won their first Asian Championship at this age group in Saudi Arabia two years ago.
"We go into the second game with a lesson learned and hopefully won't repeat the mistakes. It was a game we could have won, had we taken those chances that came our way. I hope that too will come good in this game.
"Japan are strong opponents but we were the better side on that day, but didn't have luck. "The boys were naturally upset after the first game but the coach, Juma Rabee, hasn't pointed a finger at anyone. He has told us to forget that game and be focused on our next match, for which we are.
"This is a strong and talented side, and we can win if we play true to our potential."
In today's other games, Australia face Iran and South Korea meet Yemen in Group D.
China claimed their second win - 2-0 over Syria - to go on top of Group A. They are assured of a place in the quarter-finals, with Syria and Saudi Arabia facing each other in the final match for the remaining berth. Uzbekistan, finalists in 2008, are in the same situation, having beaten Bahrain to make it two from two in Group B. North Korea and Bahrain meet for the second quarter-final spot.
apassela@thenational.ae
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
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
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Political flags or banners
-
Bikes, skateboards or scooters
SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
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
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
