Dubai: The absence of Omar Abdul Rahman and Ali Mabkhout from the King’s Cup in Thailand this weekend is no big deal, according to UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni.
The Italian dropped the pair after they broke a curfew and left their hotel in Kuwait without permission the night before the UAE’s Gulf Cup final defeat to Oman in January where Omar missed two penalties.
Both players served four-match domestic bans for the infringement but have now also been dropped for this international friendly tournament in Bangkok, which kicks off the UAE’s countdown to their hosting of the 2019 Asian Cup in January.
‘The Whites’ play Slovakia at the Rajamangala Stadium from 1.30pm (UAE time) on Thursday. Whoever wins will go on to play the winner of Thailand’s other semi-final against Gabon in Saturday’s final from 4.30pm (UAE time). The losers of both semis face off in a third-place play-off from 1.30pm (UAE time) on Saturday. All games will be played at the same venue.
“There is nothing to worry about the lack of two players,” said Zaccheroni. “Both affect the team but it’s not a big thing.
“We want all players to experience the King’s Cup. Those who travelled this time are the main and most important. Missing Omar and Ali won’t make us stronger, but I am fully convinced in the abilities of the rest of the squad. The main characters are with us and I believe they are also a good team.
“Slovakia are one of the leading teams in Europe,” he said of the side who reached the Last 16 on their respective World Cup and European Championship debuts in 2010 and 2016. “But we have prepared well. The target of course is what everyone wants, the title, but we also want to give every player a chance as well.”
Al Ain midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman told Arabic media earlier: “I respect Zaccheroni’s view regarding my exclusion and I am not angry about his decision. I will strive to return and give my best and am ready to serve the national team at any time.
“If they think not to call as a penalty, it’s up to them, but what I want to say is that any player in the Arabian Gulf League wishes to be on the team list, because it’s a great honour.”
UAE FA president Marwan Bin Ghalita said: “I wish success to the team at the friendly tournament in Thailand, and I think it’s an opportunity to experience new elements of the players who have been added.”
Abdul Rahman and Mabkhout aren’t the only big names to miss the tournament. Slovakia’s Marek Hamsik of Napoli is injured and Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal has withdrawn following the death of his grandmother.
The UAE failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in a campaign shared by coaches Mahdi Ali and Edgardo Bauza. Japan’s former 2011 Asian Cup winning coach Alberto Zaccheroni took over in October and lost in the final of his first tournament at the Gulf Cup in January, but will now seek to make amends by bringing Asian Cup glory on home soil for the Emirates next January.
