Sultan Bargash of Al Jazira, right, celebrates scoring the game-winner against Sharjah on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. Al Ittihad
Sultan Bargash of Al Jazira, right, celebrates scoring the game-winner against Sharjah on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. Al Ittihad

Reserves lift Al Jazira to top-three finish in Arabian Gulf League



ABU DHABI // Al Jazira secured a top-three finish in the Arabian Gulf League with a 1-0 win over Sharjah, and with it at least a play-off spot for a potential berth in 2015 Asian Champions League (ACL) competition.

Sultan Bargash scored on the half-hour and the home side put up a defensive masterclass to preserve that lead to round off their league campaign last night at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

The result took them to the second spot in the table on 45 points with Al Wahda, who play Al Shaab tonight. Jazira hold a head-to-head advantage over Wahda with a win and draw in league play.

Walter Zenga, the Jazira coach, fielded his reserve squad and the ploy paid off with his big guns rested ahead of Tuesday’s second leg in the ACL round of 16 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. They trail Al Ain 2-1 from the first leg.

“I had trust on the entire squad and providing them the opportunity to play the last game was my intention from the onset. I am glad they achieved the desired result,” Zenga said.

“There were a lot of young players and some of those who were returning after recovering from long injuries. This augurs well for the club for next season.

“My instructions to them before the match were very simple. I told them not to get scared, but just go out there and play your own game and that’s what they did tonight.”

Paulo Bonamigo, the Sharjah coach, was quick to applaud Jazira’s second-string team.

“We created several scoring chances, but couldn’t score. I can only congratulate Jazira for the win, as they managed to score first on a counter attack and defended the lead until the end,” the Brazilian said.

“We started the season well, but couldn’t finish it off well. We played for the top-four positions for almost three-quarters of the league and finished seventh, although we were not too far from the second team in the table. Obviously, our objectives would be to plan for the next season and this is something we have to deal with the management of the club.”

Bargash exchanged passes with Hassan Ameen on the left side of the box and connected with a cross from 12 yards to put Jazira in front for good.

Khalid Al Senani, the Jazira goalkeeper, made an excellent save by diving to his right to push out a low shot from Fellype Gabriel from inside the box as Sharjah went in search of the equaliser.

The visitors were wasteful in the second half, creating several clear-cut chances, but failed to convert any of them.

apassela@thenational.ae

MO
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How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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 

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

England World Cup squad

Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800