Sport | Football

When UAE caught soccer fever

Football fans poured into Abu Dhabi from all over the country to cheer for the UAE football team in the final match against Oman in the 18th Gulf Cup championship.

  • By Mohammad Shamseddine and Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporters
  • Published: 23:36 May 3, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Ravindranath/Gulf News
  • Football fever reached its peak in the UAE as almost all roads led to Abu Dhabi.
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Abu Dhabi/Dubai: The carnival had arrived ... and the nation was all dressed up to celebrate.

Football fans poured into Abu Dhabi from all over the country to cheer for the UAE football team in the final match against Oman in the 18th Gulf Cup.

Fans from all nationalities, boys and girls, men and women started flowing into Zayed Stadium in Zayed Sports City as early as 10am.

The football spirit was present in everyone as people carried UAE flags, decorated their cars and even painted their faces and clothes green, white, red and black.

Latif Abdullah, a 20-year-old Emirati student, was wearing a special hat he had brought for the occasion. "I am here to cheer for my country and I am hoping the UAE will win 2-1. If we win, we'll all drive to the breakwater and party till dawn," he said.

His older brother, Mohammad, 26, decorated his car by himself. "I put stickers and the stars on the car in addition to the flag. It's a way of showing how much we love and support our team. I am expecting a win. If we win, we'll have a parade which will go over two or three days," he added.

Magdi Rezk, from Egypt, has been to all the games the UAE team has played. He came with his brother Sameh and their families. "We have seen all the games the UAE has played and we'll be cheering for the UAE team, carrying both a UAE and an Egyptian flag, and hopefully victory will be ours," he said.

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Abdul Rahim Ahmad, a UAE national, came from Dubai wearing a straw hat and a burqa.

"I wanted to wear something that symbolises the UAE. We are all here to cheer and to have a good time." Sean, Bill, Trish and Kim, four teachers from Canada, also came to see the game.

"We hope the UAE wins. If they win, we're gonna go crazy," said Sean.

Dalal, a bank employee, could be seen driving down Jumeirah in Dubai having draped her white four-wheel drive in massive UAE flags. She and two friends took the day off to cheer their team in Dubai.

"All three of us took leave. Everyone we know has taken leave. Don't tell my boss, though," she laughed.

Dalal told Gulf News she had gone shopping with her friends to buy material to help them cheer on their national team and celebrate victory. She had bought confetti crackers, hand horns, spray paint, a hat in the national colours, and UAE flags of various sizes.

Dalal said she even spray painted her abaya with the colours of the UAE flag.

Mohammad Al Fardan, a former football referee who was also cheering for the UAE team, said he had enquired about UAE memorabilia in various shops but they were sold out everywhere. "I have many flags but I'm looking for some more, as well as a sticker for my car and a UAE-flag scarf. The scarf is the hardest to find," he said.

Away from the stadium, the colours of the UAE flag were visible everywhere.

The manager at the Romario sports store in Satwa told Gulf News that the store had sold 300 UAE flags since Saturday, when the UAE beat Saudi Arabia to win a place in the finals.

With additional inputs from Bassma Al Jandaly

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