EDI revel in team spirit after NAS futsal crown
Veteran star Jameel hails teammates for title run as Ramadan tournament concludes
Emirates Driving Institute’s (EDI) experienced star Sabri Jameel pinpointed team spirit as the one factor that saw his side take top honours in futsal at the cost of Al Bahri on the concluding day of the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Sports Tournament, late on Wednesday.
Jameel, playing alongside his younger brother Abdul Kareem for the first time in six editions of the tournament, scored twice as EDI finally clinched the title in a penalty shoot-out after both teams were tied 5-5 at the end of regulation period.
Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President, Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), was joined by Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commanderin-Chief of Dubai Police and Chairman of the tournament; Saeed Hareb, General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), and Tournament Director Hassan Al Mazroui, at the presentation of trophies and medals to the top three teams.
“This is like a dream for all of us, but all credit to all of us as we never stopped believing in ourselves,” Jameel told Gulf News.
One match at a time
“Tonight’s win all boils down to the team spirit we have shown throughout this tournament. At times we have been down and out, but we have stayed on to live one match at a time. And now we have the privilege of playing together as a team and winning this trophy,” he added.
EDI powered to an early 3-0 cushion with goals from Williams Oliver Do Nascimento (10th), Sabri Jameel (12th) and his younger sibling Abdul Kareem (16th). But Al Bahri dug deep and, before the half-time whistle, pulled level with goals from Essam Alla Shamkh (16th), Hamad Ali Al Shamsi (17th) and Hilal Abdullah Al Jabri (20th).
EDI’s 25th minute lead from Sabri was then cancelled out by French international Mohammad Abdul Samad Mohammad in the 31st minute to force an additional ten minutes of extratime. During extra-time, it was advantage EDI once again in the very second minute as Nascimento’s shot leaked in past goalkeeper Mayed Ali Al Maeeni.
Al Bahri hung in and managed an equaliser through the goalkeeper when his shot zoomed into the EDI goal with 1.3 second remaining on the clock.
In the resultant tiebreaker, Rangel Taian Pess Pereira, Thiago Teles Martins and Nascimento were on target for EDI, after Al Shamsi and Kevin Ramirez Alonso had scored but Abdul Samad’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Hassan Ali Al Hantoobi.