Arriving in Abu Dhabi at the start of this year as a football-mad Englishman I was immediately trying to look for ways to stay involved with the beautiful game.
While the Premier League games and Spanish football could be watched on television, it just was not the same as watching a game in the flesh.
So when I discovered there was a UAE club named Al Wahda based near the hotel where I was staying, I decided their home game with Al Ahli would be ideal to scratch the itch I had to see some live action.
While the 12,000 capacity Al Nahyan stadium may have seen better days, it still created a good atmosphere.
Indeed you haven't lived until you've heard Queen's We Will Rock You sung by the club's designated singers.
Now I'd be lying if I said the quality of the football blew me away as both sides huffed and puffed, but there was something about the battling spirit of Wahda's side that struck a chord.
It was the start of a love affair as I continued to go to Wahda games and began to get behind the team, even buying a replica shirt in the process.
Admittedly it was almost three months before I saw them win a match, but in a way seeing them struggle made the feeling of victory that much sweeter - even better that the success came against their city rivals Al Jazira.
Disappointment, frustration, delight and enjoyment are among the emotions Wahda have given me over the last 11 months and have helped Abu Dhabi certainly feel a little more like home.
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
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
