Sport | Football
UAE backed to end goal drought against Kuwait
Former and present UAE stars played down the significance of the team's failure to score in 540 minutes of friendly games before the UAE commence their campaign in the World Cup qualifiers against Kuwait.
- By Yasir Abbasher Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:41 February 5, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Former and present UAE stars played down the significance of the team's failure to score in 540 minutes of friendly games before the UAE commence their campaign in the World Cup qualifiers against Kuwait.
UAE's Player of the 20th Century, Adnan Al Talyani, who is a member of the FA Technical Committee, said: "Players have different attitudes in friendly matches in which they are more relaxed because the results are not important but in official matches they tend to concentrate more.
I do believe that they will score goals in the qualifying matches."
Esmail Mattar, the UAE's ace striker, said "We have many good players who can score goals from the front line and midfield and we have faced some bad luck in the friendlies. I am confident that we will concentrate more against Kuwait."
Faisal Khalil, Mattar's partner in the front line, added: "There is no cause for worry. We have the capability and the determination to score and to win the match.
It is important to win points in such a league with round robin format."
Former UAE custodian, Abdul Gadir Hassan who is also a member of the FA TC, said:
"It is almost the same team that won the Gulf Cup. We expect them to show the same standard."
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