UAE coach Bauza set to rack up the air miles

Dubai - The Argentine has been tasked by the UAE Football Association to track the players who are undergoing pre-season camps with their clubs in Europe

UAE National football team coach Edgardo Bauza will be racking up the air miles after being tasked with tracking the players who are undergoing pre-season camps with their clubs in Europe.
Breaking from tradition where the UAE squad normally assembles for a National camp in the summer, in the run-up to a crucial match, the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) came up with the decision to send the Argentine coach to the various training camps where the players are undergoing training.
The UAEFA's Committee of Teams and Technical Affairs held their fifth meeting at the FA's headquarters in Al Khawaneej on Monday and arrived at the decision. The meeting was chaired by UAEFA President Marwan bin Ghalita.
Bauza's remit would be to visit the pre-season training camps of the various Arabian Gulf League (AGL) clubs and attend the friendly matches of the players who will be selected for the team.
"The move comes within the framework of the strategy implemented by the UAE Football Association to enhance communication between national team coaches and clubs and to discuss and consult on the candidates for National teams and the means to ensure their development and promotion of these National football talents," the UAEFA said in a statement on Tuesday.
Arabian Gulf League champions Al Jazira are currently in The Netherlands, while record League winners Al Ain FC are in Austria. The new entity Shabab Al Ahli Dubai left for The Netherlands on Monday. Al Nasr are currently in Slovenia for the first phase before travelling to Hungary on August 1. Meanwhile Al Wahda are participating in the Arab Club Championship in Cairo, Egypt.
Al Wasl, who finished second in the AGL last season, are currently in Munich, Germany.
Bauza returned from Argentina last week and was in Al Ain to watch the UAE Olympic team in the AFC Under-23 Championship China 2018 Qualifiers.
The Committee discussed in detail, the preparations of the UAE National squad for their remaining two fixtures in the Asia Zone World Cup Qualifiers. The Whites are set to take on heavyweights Saudi Arabia at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on August 29 and then play Iraq away on September 5.
The UAE squad will assemble in Al Ain on August 18 with Al Ain FC players set to link up with the squad after their commitments in the AFC Champions League. Al Ain are in the quarterfinals of the Asian competition and square off against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the first leg at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on August 21.
The UAE's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next year looks bleak after the 1-1 draw against Thailand in June. That fixture was 59-year-old Bauza's first match in charge after taking over from Emirati tactician Mahdi Ali.
The Whites are currently placed fourth in Group B in the third round of the qualfiers. They have 10 points from eight matches after having won three drawn one and lost four. Japan are perched atop the table with 17 points followed by Saudi Arabia with 16. Australia are third with 16 points.
james@khaleejtimes.com