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UAE Olympic team hope they can turn up the flame

After a slow-burning start, the UAE Olympic team hope that they can turn up the flame when they square off against mighty China in the men's football competition of the Asian Games on Sunday.
The Under-23 team have come through a testing time of an unwanted distraction and an opening loss to Syria, with a much-needed victory against Timor Leste, to stay alive in the competition.
But if they are to make it out of Group C and into the knockout stages of the competition, Maciej Skorza lads will have to see off group toppers China at the Jalak Harupat Stadium in Soreang, Indonesia on the morrow.
China lead the group with six points followed by Syria and the UAE on three points apiece, with Timor Leste, the basement dwellers of the group. Syria will meet Timor Leste in the other fixture, which will be played simultaneously at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang.
The top two teams from each group and four best third-placed teams will progress to the round of 16. The UAE are currently one of best third-placed team along with hosts Indonesia from Group A, Bangladesh from Group B and Kyrgystan from Group E.
The last time the UAE failed to make it past the group was in 2006 in Doha. They also failed to progress at Busan, South Korea in 2002. The UAE, who went down to Japan in the final in 2010, had reached the quarterfinals at Incheon, South Korea in 2014.
The UAE's Polish coach Skorza has been studying footage of China's matches against Timor Leste and Syria and urged his side to redouble their efforts.
"We will have to double our work, effort and focus throughout the game and not rush," Skorza said on Saturday.
"The challenge is still in our hands and we will fight to achieve that, which the players are well aware of," added the 46-year-old.
Skorza is fretting on the fitness of midfielder Jassim Yaqoub after the 21-year-old missed training due to an injury, which the Al Nasr player had sustained during the match against Timor Leste.
Meanwhile, striker Ahmed Al Attas has promised to give everything they have and take another step towards emulating the class of 2010. Mahdi Ali's 'Golden Generation' of Omar Abdulrahman, Amer Abdulrahman, Ali Mabkhout, Ahmed Khalil and others won silver at Guangzhou, China in 2010.
"We will give everything to achieve a positive result and qualify for the next stage," said Al Attas.
"It will not be easy, especially as China have shown a different level to the rest to take full points from both the matches. We have to show team spirit and discipline to counter China," added the Al Jazira youngster.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 
KICK-OFF: UAE vs China, 4 p.m UAE Time