Jamal and Karim shine at world tournament

Dubai: UAE players Humaid Jamal and Ali Karim returned home more experienced and wiser following their participation with Lokomotiv Moscow and Seattle FC during the recent Fifa Beach Soccer Clubs World Championships played in Brazil.

Both members of the UAE national squad that suffered a shock defeat during the Asian qualifiers for the 2011 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup earlier this month, Jamal and Karim gave a good account of themselves during the 12-club tournament in Sao Paulo. Brazilian side Vasco Da Gama went on to win the clubs' title with a 4-2 victory against Sporting Lisbon of Portugal.

Playing in the Lokomotiv colours, Jamal was impressive throughout the competition as the Russians ended at the top of Group A en route defeating AC Milan 7-2. Lokomotiv lost 4-5 to Sporting Lisbon in the semi-final before succumbing by a solitary goal against Brazil's Flamengo in the play-off for the third place. Karim, on the other hand, was the pivot in Seattle FC reaching the quarter-finals where they went down 4-5 in the penalty shootout.

The two players were the only ones picked up by scouts after watching them play during the Asian qualifiers of the 2011 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Muscat at the end of February.

Beach soccer is being promoted in the UAE under the auspices of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC). "It is indeed an honour for us to have two of our national players play for foreign clubs. This shows that our players are capable of competing at the highest stage," noted Dr Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, Secretary-General, DSC.