UAE Olympic team to train in South Korea

The UAE Olympic football team will undergo a two-week training camp in South Korea. — Supplied photo

Dubai — The UAE Olympic football national team’s delegation heads for South Korea on Monday morning for a two-week training camp before the Whites line up for honours in the 17^th Asian Games to be held in the Korean city Incheon later this month.

The UAE lads launch their claim against India on September 15 and face Jordan three days later in the group stage of the tournament.

According to the national head coach Ali Ebrahim, they have decided to shift their training camp from China to South Korea to enable the players to acclimatise and play three friendlies on September 4, 7 and 9.

“We will take on hosts Korea in the final warm-up, but our opponents in the first two matches are still to be decided,” he confirmed.

“I think we are in a very good position and the boys have concluded their preparations with a final workout at the Zeyab Awana grounds on Saturday,” he added.

“We have focused on upgrading the physical fitness and other tactical aspects, including interception, crossings and execution of free kicks,” he said.

Ebrahim spoke to the players before the training session and urged them to show the best of them to do pride for their nation.

The training session was attended by the top officials of the football association who reminded the players of the tough mission ahead and the necessity of living up to the expectations.

“I would like to convey the greetings and good wishes of Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Honorary President of the UAEFA and Yousuf Al Serkal, president of the football association and the members of the board of directors,” said Salem Obaid Al Shamsi, vice-president of the UAEFA.

“It is a national duty,” said Bander Al Ahbabi, who has been called to join the squad alongside Nawaf Mubarak and Saeed Al Kathiri as the overage trio.

“To be invited by the Olympic national team’s coach is a great honour and we will never let him down,” he promised.

Regarding the status of Sultan Bargash who was called to replace Nawaf Mubarak, no final decision has been taken as regards wether he would be added to the official list of players or not, but both players are expected to travel to Korea.

“We will find out there who would be the third player,” said Abdul Qader Hassan, director of the national teams’ department at the UAEFA. “In case we will succeed in adding Bragash to the list, Mubarak will return home the next day, otherwise, we will go ahead with the same trio. Everything depends on the decision of the officials in the light of the rules of the Games,” he said.

Elsewhere, the news about India’s intentions to pull out of the football competition is still to be confirmed after the squad is already in China to prepare from there for the Games and started their preparations with a 3-0 win over Guangzhou at the Century Park Stadium in Shanghai on Friday. Jordan Olympic boys have also cruised to a narrow 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the King Abdulla Stadium in Amman on Saturday.