We are one team, one family, says UAE FA’s Marwan bin Ghalita
dubai — UAE Football Association (UAE FA) President Marwan bin Ghalita was confident that the players who will be selected for the AFC Asian Cup will be fitting and worthy of wearing the country’s jersey at the Asian stage.
The UAE will host the 17th edition of the Asia’s most prestigious and biggest competition from January 5 to Feb. 1 next year and as the squad prepares for this important tournament, Marwan bin Ghalita said that the players, the coaching staff and the FA have a common responsibility, as hosts, to show that they are one of the best teams.
“We have full confidence in the players and their ability to put into practice the programme chalked out by the coaching staff for the AFC Asian Cup,” Marwan bin Ghalita said on Saturday. The FA President and other officials met the 26-man squad called up by coach Alberto Zaccheroni, prior to their departure to Girona, Spain, for the second camp, at the FA’s headquarters.
“We have a common responsibility, as a strong and important team in the Asian continent, as well as the host country of the tournament. The players understand the challenges well and we are confident that they will provide their best in the competition,” he added. Marwan bin Ghalita also thanked the Arabian Gulf League clubs for their co-operation with the FA in letting the players take part during the team’s camps in Salzburg, Austria and Girona, Spain.
“We thank the clubs for their co-operation and their understanding the importance of such a big competition. It shows that we are one team and one family,” Marwan bin Ghalita said. He and the other officials also listened to a presentation from Zaccheroni and Abdullah Saleh, the team’s supervisor, about the programme charted out for the camp in Spain.
The Whites are scheduled to play
Khalid Eisa, Ismail Ahmed, Mohannad Salem, Mohammed Ahmed, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Amer Abdulrahman Ahmed Barman, Rayan Yaslam, Mohammed Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Mohammed Marzooq, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Ali Khaseif, Fares Jumaa,
Ali Mabkhout (Al Jazira), Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Mubarak (Al Nasr), Khamis Ismail, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Saif Rashid, Alhasan Saleh (Sharjah), Fahad Al Dhanhani (Bani Yas), Mohamed Bargash (Al Wahda), Omar Abdulrahman ( Al Hilal). friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago on Sept 6 and Laos on September 11, during the camp.
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