Dubai: Coach Gustavo Zloccowick, alias ‘Guga’, is expecting his young UAE team to peak in time for this week’s Samsung Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup taking place at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).
The UAE will start their campaign against Morocco on Tuesday and will have to contend with defending champions Iran and Portugal in the following two days to get into the semi-finals of the eight-team competition. Group A consists of the USA, Brazil, Japan and former two-time champions Russia.
The UAE team have been training for the past three weeks at the Al Mamzar Beach Park, and one of the new things Guga has introduced to his young side is the learning involved while playing practice matches.
The UAE have already played seven friendly matches, two each against Oman, Lebanon and Azerbaijan and one against Hungary, winning six of those contests.
The UAE were scheduled to play Russia in their last practice game on Saturday before the tournament kicks off on November 4.
“I believe that players need to continue learning, and most of the learning process takes place during actual matches. I feel the boys have done well so far and the results speak a lot of the progress they have made,” Guga told Gulf News.
“We have to admit that we have a tough group to contend against. We have defending champions Iran and Portugal and Morocco is not going to be easy as well. Our first step will be to defeat Morocco and ensure we move towards a semi-final spot. After that, it will be one step at a time,” the Brazilian added.
One of the major changes effected by the new coach is his preference for a near new set of players within the national team with the exception of Ali Karim, Adel Ranjbar, Kamal Al Beloushi and goalkeeper Humaid Al Beloushi.
“My idea is to build a team that revolves and evolves around the more experienced players. I want to use these older players as the reference point for these youngsters. I think it’s a great mix of players and we now have the average age of our team come down significantly,” Guga said.
“I have all the confidence in this side and, in the next two or three years, the UAE will be the team to beat in the world of beach soccer,” he promised.
“I am happy for the young players in the team as they will be making their debut at the second most important international tournament in the world of beach soccer. We are the hosts and we need to do a good job this week.”
