Top UAE players hope to end the Gulf Cup jinx

Dubai: The UAE national football team take on German club Stuttgart in the Dubai Football Challenge 2007 at the Al Nasr's club Al Maktoum stadium tomorrow as they gear up for the 18th Gulf Cup.

The match is the first of two scheduled as warm-up games for the UAE before the Gulf Cup kicks off on January 17.

Following a training session held yesterday at the Al Maktoum stadium under the supervision of French coach Bruno Metsu, four players spoke about the team's preparations for the Gulf Cup.

Defender Rashid Abdul Rahman, who was selected recently by Metsu, said that he could not believe he would return so quickly.

"I just couldn't believe that I was selected for the national team despite a long absence from playing football due to the problems of my transfer to Switzerland last year," he said.

"However, with continuous training and keeping myself fit all the time, I have recovered and now I am 100% fit and ready to roll in the UAE colours."

He claimed that the UAE coach is concentrating on raising the players' morale as well as the physical condition.

"Metsu is focusing on the player's morale and enthusiasm before our first match in the Gulf Cup against Oman - which is an important one. If we win it, it will be an excellent beginning for us."

Rashid said that he hoped the UAE and Oman will enter the semifinals from group A.

"I think the UAE and Saudi Arabia will play in the final and I hope we win the title," he said.

UAE striker Mohammad Surour said that winning the Gulf Cup was more important than reaching the World Cup finals.

"If you ask me, I think winning the Gulf Cup is more important than reaching the World Cup finals. We have qualified for the World Cup finals, but we have never won the Gulf Cup. I hope it will be this time," said Mohammad Surour.

Defender Mohammad Qasim said the team needs a bit of luck to win the coveted trophy.

"In addition to our efforts, I think we need little luck to win the Gulf Cup for the first time. I think UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman will reach the semifinals and we will fight to win the title," he said.

Bashir Saeed asked his colleagues, especially in the defence line, not to lose concentration in the last minutes.

"When the Gulf Cup was held in Qatar two years ago, we lost concentration in the last minutes in important matches - which resulted in losing points. I hope this time we will concentrate hard in the last minutes to keep our lead until the referee's final whistle," said Bashir.