UAE to test mettle against Kuwait

Dubai: The UAE meet Kuwait today in their last warm-up match before leaving on Friday for Muscat to begin their Gulf 19th Gulf cup from January 4 to 17.

The match kicks off at 6.30 pm at the Al Wasl stadium. It will be the second warm-up game the UAE has played in the space of 72 hours.

On Saturday, the UAE national team played their first warm-up game against Iraq in Al Ain, where they held a one-week training camp. The match ended in a 2-2 draw after UAE led 2-1.

UAE coach Dominique Bathenay told Gulf News that "it's a good chance for me to start today's match with those who didn't play against Iraq on Saturday.

"This match is also our last rehearsal before the Gulf Cup kicks off next week."

The coach was speaking after a training session held yesterday at the Al Wasl stadium.

Against Iraq, the UAE team played without several key players like Esmail Mattar, Abdul Rahim Juma, Nawaf Mubarak, Esmail Hammady and goalkeeper Majid Naser.

The UAE coach utilised new faces like Ahmad Moadhid, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohannad Al Ennazy and Mohammad Faiz.

The players performed well. The players, who returned from retirement, Mohammad Omar and Abdul Salam Juma, also excelled.

Omar scored UAE's first goal which was satisfying for Bathenay. The UAE coach is happy with the standard the players showed against Iraq.

Mohammad Ebrahim, Ahmad Dada, Abdullah Mal Allah, Khalid Sebil, Walid Abbas, Hamdan Kamali will be on the reserves bench during the Gulf Cup.

"All the players are in a fine form, I do not want to differentiate between seniors and reserves. All of them are seniors and I will try to play the 11 regulars for the Gulf Cup in the match against Kuwait," said Bathenay.

UAE skipper Mohammad Omar was happy with the team's form against Iraq.

"Today's match is a good chance to raise the standard and give us time to harmonise before the start of the Gulf Cup," he said.

"The team performed well against Iraq, I do not want to speak about my standards as this will be judged by others. I think I did well during the period I played and I hope with the help of my teammates to give our best in Muscat and defend our title in style," said Omar.