FIFA Club World Cup 2017
For the next few days, the world’s focus will be on the UAE. The Stadiums in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi will form the grand settings as the 14th edition of the Fifa Club World Cup will be played here.
The tournament, which sees the best clubs from continental confederations in action, will kick-start with Arabian Gulf League champions Al Jazira challenging OFC Champions League winners Auckland City at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
Al Jazira coach Henk ten Cate’s greenhorns will be up against the nine-time participants from New Zealand. This is going to be a tough challenge but it will be a moment of truth for UAE football and not just one Abu Dhabi club. This is an opportunity for UAE to show their footballing prowess and their coming of age over the years.
And if any player can talk about the importance of the big platform, it’s none other than Al Jazira midfielder Yaqoub Al Hosani. In the 2010 tournament, the 30-year-old Emirati, then with Al Wahda, had played the fifth-place match against Mexico’s Pachuca.
“We should accept our responsibility. We will be representing the UAE and not just Abu Dhabi. Remember that it’s just 11 players against 11, you shouldn’t be afraid. Your morale should be at its highest because we’ll be playing on home soil in front of our fans,” he told FIFA.com.
Al Hosani is confident the team can go the distance in the competition.
“We have a few injuries at the moment. I hope they’ll be back in time as we’ll need all hands on deck.”
Despite Auckland City being a strong contender, Al Hosani felt home ground and fan support will come good.
Echoing similar sentiments, coach Ten Cate said the players need support from all corners as Al Jazira will be representing the UAE. He once again highlighted the amateurs in the squad.
“The teams are pretty equal. We play with school boys. We have five players who go to school. The schools were kind enough to give them a couple of days off,” he said during the press conference in Al Ain. He assured the players will fight like lions and were prepared physically and mentally.
“We are counting on crowd support from every fan in the UAE. We are not only playing for Al Jazira but for the UAE,” he said. “I have great confidence in the ability of my players. They will give their best performance. I am proud of my players regardless of the outcome of the match,” the coach added.
Jazira will bank on their star striker Ali Mabkhout to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Mabkhout has seven goals for his team in the Arabian Gulf League and is an opportunist who could make the difference.
Auckland City already got a taste of what to expect on Wednesday as a friendly against Kalba ended in a goalless draw. Defender Liam Graham, who had seen Dubai life from close quarters, said football in the UAE has grown over the years. “Football in the UAE can be unpredictable, full of pace and very, very fast. I think we can expect that from Al Jazira.”However, he noted the ‘Navy Blues’ will be up against the test.
“All of the players want to give the club another proud moment in this competition. Everyone believes in each other and that we have a squad capable of shaking up the Club World Cup,” Graham added.
Al Jazira will be hoping to replicate 2016 debutant Kashima Antlers’ 2-1 opening win over Auckland City in Japan.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com