UAE players have a lot to cheer

Dubai: The UAE Hockey Committee (UAE HC), which has taken drastic steps to promote the game in the region, took another stride in the right direction by sending its national team for its first-ever international assignment.

The UAE team will participate in a tournament in Bahrain where in teams from Pakistan, India, Kuwait and Qatar will also feature starting from June 1.

“This is a big achievement for us. It will be a great opportunity for the team consistently mostly of Emirati players,” said Ismail Ali Al Banna, president of the UAE HC.

“This exposure tour will give the boys a great opportunity to learn new things especially playing against strong teams traveling from India and Pakistan, where hockey is being played for a long time,” Al Banna added.

Prior to their departure, the UAE team played a warm-up game against a local hockey club at the Sharjah Youth Center on Tuesday.

“We have made a start and we will try to organise more such events in the future that will provide our players more exposure.

“Another interesting thing was a few boys who were not very keen to come to practice every day at the centres have returned to train full-fledged after learning about the tour. So we will do everything possible to bring in more players,” he added.

It was only in the recent years that UAE HC has made great progress towards the development of the game especially with the setting up of the sports centres for local boys to train.

Coach Saleh Juma Khaluf Al Farsi said: “It’s a very good decision taken by the committee to send the UAE team for this tour. This will give the boys very good exposure and help them grow as professionals.

Sounding optimistic about their performance in Bahrain, he said: “The preparations are good but they will be up against strong teams from India and Pakistan. But this will give them a great opportunity for them to learn and hopefully some positive results should further boost them.”

Team Manager Mariam Fozan Salim, while hailing the steps taken by the committee, said: “All these steps will ensure we will have a great team in the near future consisting of UAE nationals.”
 
Team:
Sultan Obaid Humaid Obaid Al Dabbah Suwaidi, Mohammad Eisa Mohammad Ali Mohammad Baniyas, Amer Ali Ismail Hassan, Omar Mohammad Hassan Mohammad Al Yassi, Marwan Aqeel Mohammad Amin Al Ali, Majid Ali Saleh Yousif Al Maeeni (All Emiratis), Vivek Picardo and Biniyamin Khan (both India), Nadeem Ahmed and Basharat Arif Ali (both Pakistan). Head coach: Saleh Juma Khaluf Al Farsi. Assistant Coach: Mohammad Ahmed Ali El Sherbiny. Team Manager: Mariam Fozan Salim. Physio: Ronald Camacho.