Abdullah Misfir will get a closer look at his charges on the UAE Under 19 national team when they face Sohar of Oman in a friendly on Saturday.
It will be their first game under the Emirati coach, who has had a 32-player squad shortlisted for a four-day camp at the Football Association’s Theyab Awana grounds in Dubai.
Misfir is preparing the side for the AFC U19 Championship in Myanmar from October 6 to 20. The UAE have been drawn in Group B, which includes Uzbekistan, Australia and Indonesia.
The team met up under the new coach for the second time after their first four-day camp shortly before Ramadan.
"We will continue with this trend during the fasting month to keep the players in good shape," said Misfir, who left Al Dhafra after the Arabian Gulf League season.
“We have already drawn up a good programme for the boys beginning with a short camp in Slovakia on August 15. They are a very talented squad and I’m looking forward to working with them in the coming months.”
Misfir has a similar short programme designed a week later that includes two games against an Egyptian counterpart.
“It is important for them to play more games. We have a big squad and need to provide playing opportunities for as many of them as possible before we decide on the final squad,” he said.
“Obviously, more games will also give me the opportunity to experiment and try different combinations. We will regroup again after the friendly game on July 12.”
apassela@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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