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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
UAE football finally came of age on a cool, crisp evening in the capital. And our dreams are finally coming true. Watched by The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and a standing room only crowd at the Zayed Sports City stadium, UAE got their hands on the prestigious Gulf Cup on the 18th attempt.
Thirty-five years of waiting was finally over.
The two-week long tournament started with the UAE against Oman. That match turned out to be the only hiccup in UAE’s campaign as our neighbours won that contest 2-1.
It ended with the UAE against Oman. But this time, when it mattered most, UAE’s Ismail Matar had his best scoring boots on and struck a beauty of a winner that sent seismic waves across the country and put the whole nation into party mode.
Amazing goals
In between Matar scored some amazing, opportunistic goals against the likes of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Those were classy strikes from a mercurial master striker. Five goals in all came off his scoring boots.
Except for the players themselves and a handful of people, no one really expected the UAE to climb such lofty heights, specially with the many Gulf football powers in the fray.
Bruno Metsu, the colourful Frenchman with the Midas touch, turned out to be a shrewd tactician. Initially playing down his team’s chances, Metsu moulded the team into a strong fighting unit who believed in themselves.
Pessimists predicted Mohammed Omar and his team-mates would fall by the wayside due to a lack of depth in the squad. But they proved them all wrong as they performed minor miracles after miracles during the tournament.
Metsu’s stock, which had risen considerably after he converted to Islam, will skyrocket now. The coach with lovely, long tresses could ask for anything and it will be delivered to him on a platter.
The hard work actually begins now. UAE should build on this success and go from strength to strength. And Metsu can be entrusted with this job; to guide UAE to the next World Cup finals and to greater glory.
The Frenchman nearly pulled off his hair during the first-half when UAE’s domination was not being converted into goals or near chances.
But then came Matar’s awesome strike and Metsu’s frayed nerves were calmed. When the final whistle blew, the noise the fans in the stadium made could have been heard all the way to the other end of the country.
Cars roamed through the streets with klaxons blaring and waving flags. The old, the young and the women, specially the women, partied like there was no tomorrow.
It has been two great weeks of football. And it ended the way we all wanted it to end. UAE are champions.
Thirty-five years of waiting was finally over.
The two-week long tournament started with the UAE against Oman. That match turned out to be the only hiccup in UAE’s campaign as our neighbours won that contest 2-1.
It ended with the UAE against Oman. But this time, when it mattered most, UAE’s Ismail Matar had his best scoring boots on and struck a beauty of a winner that sent seismic waves across the country and put the whole nation into party mode.
Amazing goals
In between Matar scored some amazing, opportunistic goals against the likes of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Those were classy strikes from a mercurial master striker. Five goals in all came off his scoring boots.
Except for the players themselves and a handful of people, no one really expected the UAE to climb such lofty heights, specially with the many Gulf football powers in the fray.
Bruno Metsu, the colourful Frenchman with the Midas touch, turned out to be a shrewd tactician. Initially playing down his team’s chances, Metsu moulded the team into a strong fighting unit who believed in themselves.
Pessimists predicted Mohammed Omar and his team-mates would fall by the wayside due to a lack of depth in the squad. But they proved them all wrong as they performed minor miracles after miracles during the tournament.
Metsu’s stock, which had risen considerably after he converted to Islam, will skyrocket now. The coach with lovely, long tresses could ask for anything and it will be delivered to him on a platter.
The hard work actually begins now. UAE should build on this success and go from strength to strength. And Metsu can be entrusted with this job; to guide UAE to the next World Cup finals and to greater glory.
The Frenchman nearly pulled off his hair during the first-half when UAE’s domination was not being converted into goals or near chances.
But then came Matar’s awesome strike and Metsu’s frayed nerves were calmed. When the final whistle blew, the noise the fans in the stadium made could have been heard all the way to the other end of the country.
Cars roamed through the streets with klaxons blaring and waving flags. The old, the young and the women, specially the women, partied like there was no tomorrow.
It has been two great weeks of football. And it ended the way we all wanted it to end. UAE are champions.
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etisalat has announced that it would reward the UAE football team with AED 2million if they win the final match in the 18th Gulf Cup on Tuesday, 30th January, against Oman.
etisalat officials praised the performance of the UAE Team through the Tournament, characterized by enthusiasm and team spirit that qualified the team for the final match.
According to etisalat, this performance is a translation of the leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Rulers of the Emirates and Members of the Supreme Council, and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Their continuous support for sports has raised the profile of UAE regionally and internationally and encouraged national teams and representatives to go for gold.
Football fans have been urged to drive safely tonight if the UAE beat Oman in the final of the Gulf Cup by police and the Road and Transport Authority (RTA).
Al-Moatasem Pellah, the traffic awareness manager in the Traffic Department at the RTA, said although they wanted everyone to enjoy themselves if the UAE won, they had to respect the laws of the road.
“We want residents to be logical in their celebrations and we want them to respect the road rules,” he said.
He was also at pains to point out that people were endangering their lives, and those of others, by acting foolishly, adding that four people had died in Ajman in accidents and two in Abu Dhabi following UAE matches.
“We do not want anyone to die, like the four people that died in Ajman. We don’t want random celebrations, they have to be organised,” he said.
Police have said there will be extra officers on duty tonight on the main roads into Dubai.
A police spokesman also advised drivers not to act spontaneously or recklessly, and said that if the UAE win there will be an organised parade, with a police escort, that everyone would be invited to participate in.
There had been complaints that following the 1-0 semi-final victory over Saudi Arabia, some fans were driving recklessly around the city, clutching flags and hanging out of car windows and sun roofs to celebrate.
One Dubai resident who lives on Jumeirah Beach Road said the noise kept her up all night and the driving was so erratic it could have led to the fans getting into major accidents.
“I for one called the police because I could see a disastrous accident waiting to happen,” she said.