UAE's task cut out against Oman

Dubai: UAE meet Oman today in their first match of the Group C qualifiers for the Asian Cup at the Al Maktoum Stadium here. The match kicks off at 7pm.

A win today will be an excellent start for the hosts who will be looking forward to some robust support from the home fans to see them through this tough encounter.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, attended UAE's final training session yesterday at the Dubai Police Stadium. Shaikh Abdullah urged the UAE players to do their best in today's match and make the UAE supporters happy.

Shaikh Abdullah asked the UAE supporters to back the national team in today's important match. Accompanying Shaikh Abdullah was Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and Yousuf Al Sarkal, the UAE Football Association chairman.

Since the 1980 Asian Cup finals in Kuwait, the UAE have taken part in all the finals, except 2000 when they failed to make it to Lebanon.

The 10 professional players of Oman who play in England, Qatar and Kuwait will hold the key to Srecko's plan of action today, owing to their vast experience.

Goalkeeper Ali Al Habssy, who arrived here on Monday from England, where he plays for Premier League Bolton, will lead his side in today's game.

UAE are also banking on their crop of professionals as coach Bathenay pointed out: "We have our professionals who play for Al Ain and Al Wahda. They are excellent players."

Relying on strikers

UAE will be relying on strikers Faisal Khalil who signed as a professional with French club Chateauroux recently and Esmail Mattar.

The two coaches held a press conference yesterday at the Al Nasr Club. "Our team is ready to show a good performance, following good preparation periods. First of all, we released the elements of fatigue and psychological pressure from the players. In the second phase, we focused on the tactical points," said the UAE coach. Bathenay said a win today is very important as it is their first match in the group and it will be a big boost for the rest of the matches.

The Oman coach said his team's preparations were not as good as he wanted them to be. "Due to the absence of some of the professional players, our preparation was less than what we wanted. We gathered in Dubai just three days before," Srecko said.

He added: "We will play for a win. However, even if we get one point, I will be satisfied."

Squads:

UAE: Walid Salim, Mohammad Khamis, Omran Jessmy, Mohammad Qasim, Haydar Allo Ali, Ali Abbas, Humaid Fakhir, Abdul Rahim Juma, Esmail Mattar, Mohammad Omar, Faisal Khalil.

Oman: Ali Al Habssy, Mohammad Rabea, Khalifa Ayil, Hussain Mozaffar, Hussain Al Mustahil, Ahmad Hadid, Fawzi Bashir, Ahmad Mubarak, Hashim Saleh, Badr Al Maymany, Emad Al Hossany.

Group A

Yemen v Saudi Arabia

Japan v India

Group B

Iran v Chinese Taipei

Syria v Rep. of Korea

Group C

Jordan v Pakistan

UAE v Oman

Group D

Bahrain v Australia

Lebanon v Kuwait