ABU DHABI // Lucas Neill last night said he will have as much to learn from his new Al Jazira teammates as they will from him.
The Australian national team captain, 33, is one the most experienced player to ever join pro-league ranks, as he has played in two World Cups and spent more than a decade in the English Premier League at clubs such as Everton and West Ham.
And while he sees his role in the team as one of teacher, given what he has achieved in his career, he will also rely heavily on the players about what lies ahead of him in UAE football.
"I am very excited by this challenge, and I would think that I will use my experience to teach the players here and help them, although they will also need to help me," said Neill.
"I know the league because I have played against a lot of the guys here at international level. The biggest challenge right now is getting used to the climate.
"But like every player in the world, I want to win, as do my new teammates. This is an ambitious football club and I want to help Al Jazira become a name in Asian football."
Al Jazira also unveiled Abdul Raheem Jumaa and Ali Mohamed Rashid "Allawi", both midfielders who signed from Al Whada and Al Shabab respectively, in the close season.
Phil Anderton, the club's chief executive officer, said: "Lucas has had a great career, playing with some top teams in England, and has won 73 caps, so we are delighted to strengthen the team with a good depth of local players and now, also, Lucas."
The move completes the club's foreign quota, with UAE rules limiting clubs to four foreigners per squad, one of whom must be from the Asian Football Confederation; that player is Neill and he joins trio Matias Delgado, Bare and Ricardo Oliveira.
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Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
US election 2020
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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6.20pm: West Acre
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Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
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Dragons — double amputee
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MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
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Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
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WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
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Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
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Winner Al Modayar, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
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8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
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Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
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Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
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Rating: 4/5
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Facebook:
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Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
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World Cricket League Division 2
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Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February 9 v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final
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TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
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Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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