Creating a sense of football urgency less than two months after a World Cup is a special challenge. A captain hoists the trophy on the second Sunday of July and all 202 of Fifa's national federations are inclined to exhale and take a mental holiday.
The UAE, however, cannot afford the luxury of complacency. Not even a scant 56 days after Spain defeated Holland 1-0 to win South Africa 2010.
The football world is a massively competitive one, and more so, year on year. The UAE side have some highlights in their history, including a World Cup appearance in 1990, a runners-up finish at the 1996 Asian Cup and a fourth-place in the same competition in 1992.
But note the dates: not long ago to the grown-ups in the crowd, but so last-century in the world of modern football.
If we shift into the "what have you done for me lately?" frame of mind, the sobering answer from the UAE is: "Not much". Not, at least, as regards the senior national side, which was in action against Kuwait last night in a friendly at Al Wahda club's Al Nahyan Stadium.
A keen sense of a ticking clock ought to be in the minds of the Football Association. The Asian Football Confederation may still be one of the weaker continental groupings, but within it lie the seeds for the potential rise of new football powers that old, worked-over territories in Europe and South America cannot produce.
China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam each have almost no history as football powers but possess large (or enormous) populations and varying interest in football. China, in particular, seems destined to be a global player; football is the country's favourite sport.
Meantime, the nations that have formed Asia's upper crust for the past two decades show no signs of retreat. Japan and South Korea are sophisticated soccer nations with competitive professional leagues. North Korea just played in the World Cup. Saudi Arabia had appeared in four consecutive World Cups until the last one, and it is by far the most populous Gulf nation, with 27 million people.
Factor in Australia, which has easily qualified twice now as an "Asian" nation, and Iran and Iraq, the defending Asian Cup champions ... and if you are not moving forward in Asia, you soon will be going backward.
Which brings us back to the UAE. After recent disappointments on the senior side, including the embarrassment of a one-point-in-eight-matches performance in the final round of Asia qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, signs of slippage had been evident. They must be arrested for the nation to remain a global or even continental player.
Fortunately, Fifa offers us examples of small countries striding onto the world stage. Denmark is a nation of only six million, but it played in South Africa. As did Slovenia, a small Balkan state with a short history as a nation and a population of two million.
Slovenia happens to be the home country of Srecko Katanec, the UAE coach who led his national side into the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2000.
e could in fact be an inspired choice for UAE manager; the challenges of coaching Slovenia and the UAE, another small nation, are many and obvious, and if he mastered them once, why can he not do so again?
He appears to have some fine young talent at his disposal. The UAE's Under 23 side last month won the Gulf Cup. The U20 team reached the final eight in the world championships in Egypt last year. Four players from those two sides were blended into the first XI last night, and all made positive impressions.
Hamdan al Kamali and Khaled Sabeel formed the right side of the 4-4-2 formation and were active and decisive.
Two attacking players particularly impressed, central midfielder Amer Abdulrahman, who seems already to have become the brain of the team, and Ahmed Kahlil, the skilled, fleet and slippery striker.
The two of them collaborated to give the UAE a lead in the 23rd minute. Abdulrahman saw Khalil slicing toward goal and found him just onside. Khalil did the rest, sprinting past Kuwait's back line and scoring from 10 metres. Later, Sabeel lofted a perfectly weight pass over half the pitch and Ismail Mater slotted it home. Saeek al Kathiri got the third in injury time.
So, there may be some mettle in the putative "golden generation", and just in time. The UAE needs them to create and maintain the sense of urgency the side need to keep their place on the world football map.
@Email:poberjuerge@thenational.ae
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Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
Since her brown belt days, Ferreira has been dominating the 70kg, in both the World Pro and the Grand Slams. With a very aggressive game.
Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
One of the biggest talents coming out of Europe in recent times. She is known for a highly technical game and bringing her A game to the table as always.
Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
Martina Gramenius, 32, (Sweden)
Already a two-time Grand Slam champion in the current season. Gramenius won golds in the 70kg, in both in Moscow and Tokyo, to earn a spot in the inaugural Queen of Mats.
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
The specs: 2017 Lotus Evora Sport 410
Price, base / as tested Dh395,000 / Dh420,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission Six-speed manual
Power 410hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 420Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.7L / 100km
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5