We enter a week of international football so there's no UFL drama this week on the pitch, but there's no shortage of controversy off it.
The strangest story of the week came at the exclusion of Faisal Khalil from the national team.
Many players have been dropped from their respective national teams for loss of form, age or indiscipline but not magic!
The story which came out of Saudi Arabia this week was that Khalil had been dropped because he had been using witchcraft to put a hex on other players so he would become the number one striker in the UAE.
This has since been denied by the player, his family and the police.
I thought far-fetched stories about players' private lives were the preserve of European Leagues but it seems they can be a part of your star footballer's life here.
I once watched a TV programme about Khalil's home life and he seemed a lovely fella who looked after his family.
I can't imagine him being into the dark arts and I am sure he didn't mention Harry Potter as his favourite film.
Mattar can move on up
Esmail Mattar has been magic in a different way this season – three goals in three games for the little fella.
He has looked very good this term and in one-on-one situations devastating.
I am sure he could make the step to European leagues as he has pace, a great touch and is an excellent finisher and he would be able to make the step if he could stand the cold.
I interviewed Omani Ali Al Habsi of Bolton a few weeks ago and he said more players must be willing to make the step to Europe even to minor leagues like in Norway where he started.
It will only serve to improve the national teams and domestic leagues on their return home.
He has blazed a trail that hopefully more players in the region will follow.
Going, going, gone
Two games in and our first coach disappears from the UFL, no magic here just the plain old sack. Czech Miroslav Baranik has gone from Al Wasl.
I did watch one of his training sessions in which he used mannequins stuck into the ground as defenders. I think his downfall came once his team found the opposition could move about.
One mid-season break in the old UAE League did see 11 out of 14 coaches leave, but even by those standards two games is not long at all.
He has been replaced by Jurcic Srecko, a Croatian who did a great job with Bahrain, nearly qualifying for the Germany World Cup in 2006. They were just pipped in a play-off by Trinidad and Tobago.
He has worked the region a number of years which is important if you are to have success here. Hopefully he hasn't taken a long rental lease, as coaches are a bit transient in this part of the world!
Czech mate
- Sacked manager Miroslav Baranik's 2008-09 UFL record in charge at Al Wasl – after extensive research...
- Won 1
- Lost 1
- Drawn 0
- Goals scored 3
- Goals conceded 4
- Win ratio 50%
- Loss ratio 50%
