Having declared the UAE to be his “second home”, Diego Maradona has pledged his support for Mahdi Ali’s Emirati side after watching them qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia by beating Hong Kong 4-0 at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
The Argentine, who shared player of the century honours with Pele, believes that the quality of the players in the squad as well as the recent run of results makes them one of the top contenders to win the 2015 Cup.
“I was very impressed with Omar Abdulrahman’s skills, and cheered when he scored the third goal because he’s a player who makes it look easy,” Maradona told the Football Association. “He has no problems scoring, not to mention the amount of chances that he creates for his teammates. He plays a big role for the team. I congratulate him on his skills and call on him to keep it up.”
He had praise for the whole of the side, too.
“I predict a big future for this team,” he said. “They have proved themselves and I’m very happy with their standard. The important thing is that they continue this improvement, and keep raising their expectations so they can achieve even more.”
Maradona has lived in Dubai since the summer of 2011, when he arrived to coach Al Wasl.
He was seen smiling and signing autographs at the end of the Friday match, and he said his presence in Abu Dhabi was due to his support for the Emirati side.
“I believe in this team, I trust this team, and I will remain loyal to them by attending all their matches,” the ambassador for Dubai Sports Council said. “I have met [UAE Football Association President] Yousuf Al Serkal and pledged my total support for the team, and for Emirati football in general.”
Maradona also revealed his strength of feeling for the country as a whole, and not just its football scene.
“The UAE is my second home, and my support of for the team is symbol of my loyalty to this welcoming and generous country,” he said.
“Football here is heading in the right direction, and the senior team is advancing steadily on the world stage. Ambitions should not stop at the Asian Cup but extend to reaching the 2018 World Cup, because this generation of players has the talent to achieve this.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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.
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