UAE to train in China ahead of vital Asian Cup qualifier match

Abu Dhabi: The UAE senior national football team will hold a training camp in China from October 1 to 12 to prepare for their crucial match against Hong Kong in the qualifiers for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

The UAE head Group E with six points from their first two matches as they beat both Vietnam away and Uzbekistan at home with the same 2-1 margin. Hong Kong are second with four points after forcing Uzbekistan, the favourites, to settle for a goalless tie in Tashkent and then beating Vietnam with a single goal at home.

The UAE, led by Emirati coach Mahdi Ali, will play two friendly matches during the training camp in China and already four teams have volunteered to meet them: Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. The Technical Committee of the UAE FA will decide which teams to select for the matches before facing Hong Kong on October 15.

The Hong Kong clash is regarded as crucial because the UAE would almost secure their berth in the finals with victory. The top two teams in the group will qualify for Australia.

Before going to China, the UAE will take part in a friendly tournament in Saudi Arabia alongside the hosts, Trinidad & Tobago and New Zealand in September.

Ali and team manager Mutrif Al Shamsi paid visits to both China and Hong Kong last month to inspect the grounds and hotels ahead of the October matches.

“The match against Hong Kong is of great importance,” Ali told Gulf News on Saturday,” We have to win the points because it will put us at the top of the group and we might secure our berth in the finals, or we will be needing one more win in the second round of the qualifiers to reach Australia.”