United Arab Emirates’ triumph in the recent Gulf Cup final saw boisterous celebrations unleashed back home after their 1-0 win over Oman, the first time they’d won the tournament.
And bizarrely for this part of the world, a number of cross-dressing fans were also spotted among the fans. One daily newspaper reported that “according to informed sources, the cross-dressers were not homosexuals but were simply dressing up for fun’’.
Whatever your dress code, Bruno Metsu’s side arrived back as heroes. Not only did every national team player receive a bonus from president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of $170,000, but the side’s attacking playmaker Ismail Matar was also given two camels by one admiring fan.
Where the attacking playmaker would keep his newly acquired Bedouin’s best friend wasn’t clear, however each one is reportedly worth about $140,000. Matar also received another $320,000 bonus for winning the tournament’s top scorer and most valuable player award.
And Metsu’s right behind Matar. “He was criticised for his play in the early rounds, but he is a quality player and showed what he is capable off.
“I just wanted to go for a win,” added Metsu, who has agreed to extend his contract up to 2010 after arriving in June 2006.
Sydney FC and Socceroo striker Alex Brosque remembers Matar from the 2003 Youth World Cup in the UAE. The Young Socceroos were knocked out by the Emirati youngsters. “Matar was a great player… very small but great touch, they played through him all the time as I remember.”
In preparation for the Asian Cup, UAE will hold a training camp in Malaysia from June 13 to July 6 before moving to the equally hot Vietnam where they’ll play their group games. The UAE will play against Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia before leaving for Nam.
Metsu will hope Matar will be able to combine with fellow striker and captain Mohammed Omar – who scored four times in the qualifiers – in what is likely to be a three-man strikeforce.
“We must show that us winning the Gulf Cup was not a shock result or a fluke and we need to work hard so that we can show off what type and level of players we have,” says Matar.
The question is: how will the fans react in Abu Dhabi if the UAE cause an upset and win the Asian Cup?
FourFourTwo verdict
They are Cup dark horses, or should that be dark camels?
Whatever your dress code, Bruno Metsu’s side arrived back as heroes. Not only did every national team player receive a bonus from president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of $170,000, but the side’s attacking playmaker Ismail Matar was also given two camels by one admiring fan.
Where the attacking playmaker would keep his newly acquired Bedouin’s best friend wasn’t clear, however each one is reportedly worth about $140,000. Matar also received another $320,000 bonus for winning the tournament’s top scorer and most valuable player award.
And Metsu’s right behind Matar. “He was criticised for his play in the early rounds, but he is a quality player and showed what he is capable off.
“I just wanted to go for a win,” added Metsu, who has agreed to extend his contract up to 2010 after arriving in June 2006.
Sydney FC and Socceroo striker Alex Brosque remembers Matar from the 2003 Youth World Cup in the UAE. The Young Socceroos were knocked out by the Emirati youngsters. “Matar was a great player… very small but great touch, they played through him all the time as I remember.”
In preparation for the Asian Cup, UAE will hold a training camp in Malaysia from June 13 to July 6 before moving to the equally hot Vietnam where they’ll play their group games. The UAE will play against Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia before leaving for Nam.
Metsu will hope Matar will be able to combine with fellow striker and captain Mohammed Omar – who scored four times in the qualifiers – in what is likely to be a three-man strikeforce.
“We must show that us winning the Gulf Cup was not a shock result or a fluke and we need to work hard so that we can show off what type and level of players we have,” says Matar.
The question is: how will the fans react in Abu Dhabi if the UAE cause an upset and win the Asian Cup?
FourFourTwo verdict
They are Cup dark horses, or should that be dark camels?
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