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Arab summit causes problems for UAE team

The Arab Summit in Damascus later this month has become a problem for the UAE senior national football team.

  • By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 00:31 March 4, 2008
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: The Arab Summit in Damascus later this month has become a problem for the UAE senior national football team.

The UAE are scheduled to face their Syrian counterparts on March 26 in the qualifiers of the 2010 World Cup but they could not find a suitable hotel for the team in the Syrian capital because most are booked for the Arab delegations taking part in the summit.

Waiting

Abdul Rahim Jani, the supervisor of the team, travelled to Damascus and met with the officials of the Syrian FA but they failed to secure a hotel while the date of the match could not be changed.

"I met with the officials of the SFA and agreed upon all organisational aspects but the problem of the hotel is still unsolved because the Arab Summit will be held on March 2,." Jani said upon arrival.

"The officials of the UAE Embassy in Damascus is doing their best to find a hotel for the team. We are waiting."

Meanwhile, Bruno Metsu, the head coach of the UAE, praised the performance of the players of Al Ahli and Al Wasl in the semi finals of the President's Cup while showed his concern regarding the poor performance of the Al Wahda's players in the local competition as his team will gather next week to travel to Oman to play a friendly in Muscat before travelling to Damascus.

"Most of the UAE international players have been doing excellent with their teams in the local competitions. I am delighted with the performance of the players of both Al Ahli and Al Wasl in particular Faisal Khalil and his brother Ahmad, from Al Ahli."

The UAE will leave on March 17 for Oman to play the match on March 19.

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