DUBAI // Abhishek Yadav is a rarity in Indian football. Like Ismail Matar and Faisal Khalil in the UAE, he is one of the few local strikers in the 12-team I-League where clubs are obsessed with big bulldozing foreign sharpshooters. "He has suffered in the three years that I have been in India by a phenomena that I think is special to Indian football," says Indian national team coach Bob Houghton, himself a prolific striker with Fulham in the 1960s.
"And that is that all the coaches and club leaderships spend so much of their funds bringing foreign front players. "It is very difficult for our Indian front players to play on a regular basis. Apart from Baichung Bhutia and Sunil Chetri, there is really no Indian front player that is guaranteed to start." Son of a distinguished javelin thrower, Yadav is sharp inside the box. At 6ft 2in, he also has the height to put away the crosses.
He first caught the eye as a teenager playing in the local league in Mumbai. In his 10 years at the top, Yadav has been witness to Indian football's march towards professionalism. There is still a lot to be done but the player has seen some positive developments over the years. Things have been changing, he says, at both the national and club level. "Now we have a Football Players Association. Players can get themselves registered as members and they can seek any advice or whatever guidance they require from the association, which is headed by our captain Baichung Bhutia.
"The players now have started reading the contracts before signing it. Earlier, I personally know some players who didn't even read what they were signing. It is actually funny, but I can tell you that some players did not even know if they were signing a one-year or two-year contract. "Apart from that, I think things have been a lot more professional since the last two years. We have seen some of the clubs like Dempo and Mahindra United regularly qualifying for the AFC Cup."
There is still room for improvement and Yadav believes only a collective effort could help Indian football achieve their targets, despite the overbearing presence of cricket in the nation. "There is no point in competing with cricket," he says. "They have marketed the game very well. We need to follow their example and do the same. "What we need is a collective effort from all sides, the media, the federation, the clubs as well as the players. Our ultimate aim is to see Indian football going up, so I think if everyone does their bit in their respective fields, I think it will work.
"Everyone needs to come to a centre point and go ahead from there." The striker, who helped secure India's first trophy in 32 years on his international debut in the 2002 LG Cup, wants the game to reach a stage where it can be a realistic career option. "As football grows as a sport in India, I believe the youngsters will get motivated to pursue it as a career option," he says. "They can see players earning well and will they want to be there as well."
arizvi@thenational.ae
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
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Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
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BMW M5 specs
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1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
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3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
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It
Director: Andres Muschietti
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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Serie A
Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
