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Al Wasl to take on Sudan giants Al Hilal

Al Hilal have dominated the local scene since its inception, but they are still to win their first continental silverware.

Maher Al Bash, media coordinator; Mohammed Al Amri, board member; Nasser Khamis, UAE national team ex-player; and Al Wasl icon Abdullah Morad. Photo by Eman Ali Al Shamali/ Khaleej Times

Dubai — Under the patronage and directives of Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Al Wasl host Sudan’s Al Hilal in a testimonial clash to honour former UAE international Nasser Khamis at Zabeel Stadium on Friday evening. The match is set to kickoff at 6.30pm.

The news conference was attended by the Al Wasl’s board member Mohammed Al Amri and Al Hilal’s chairman Ashraf Al Kardinal.

Speaking to newsmen at the clubhouse of Tuesday, Khamis said: “I would like to thank the leading African club for accepting the invitation. Al Hilal is one of the most popular club in the region and I’m confident that the faithful fans from both Al Wasl and Al Hilal will pack the venue on Friday,” he said.

Khamis is one of the most talented midfielders in the UAE. Ironically, he has started with Al Nasr training school and in 1975 he was attracted by Al Wasl age-group. He’s the younger brother of the UAE living legend Fahad Khamis who captained the UAE in the 1990 Fifa World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Al Hilal was founded in 1930 by the graduates of Gordon Memorial College who have decided to establish sports club as an outlet for their and others’ youthful energies following the decision of the British colonial rule to ban all activities and organisations that could interrupt their hold on the region.

On February 18, 1957, only three years after the establishment of the Uefa, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was founded in Khartoum by Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa and Sudan hosted the inaugural African Cup of Nations few months later at the first floodlight venue in Africa and the Middle East, Khartoum Stadium, with three teams in the fray. South Africa was later suspended due to the apartheid policies.