Dubai: Mohammad Omar, former skipper of the UAE national team, was yesterday selected to join the national training camp starting today at Al Ain in preparation for the 19th Gulf Cup from January 4 to 17.
This was announced by Esmail Rashid, the UAE team's manager. "Mohammad Omar is an experienced striker and he was doing well with his club in the professional league," Rashid told Gulf News, yesterday.
Omar led the UAE football team to victory in the Gulf Cup tournament in January 2007. The UAE won the title for the first time in its soccer history.
Following that achievement, Omar announced his retirement from national duty. He, however, showed excellent form playing for his club Al Nasr in the professional league.
So far, he is the club's top goalscorer and the second highest goalscorer in the league with nine goals in 10 matches. Despite the fact that he is 35 years old, Omar is doing much better than the foreign strikers in the professional league
The Gulf Cup in Muscat could be the last tournament Omar's plays in national colours.
Meanwhile, Rashid said that the injury to Al Ahli left wingback Adil Abdul Aziz will be discussed by the national team's doctor.
"The doctor will decide about Aziz's injury today. If he cannot continue, we will name another player instead of him," said the UAE team's manager.
Rashid added that Al Ahli striker Faisal Khalil was not selected for national duty due to his long absence from football.
"Faisal did not play with his club for a long time. The coach selected players who were fit and were playing for their clubs in the domestic tournaments."
On the UAE team's preparation for the Gulf Cup, Rashid said he did not want to comment on the duration of the training camp.
"I do not want to speak about the preparation period. There are no excuses and we have to deal with what we have and prepare the team to defend the title which we won two years ago."
He said the players were physically fit. "The players do not need additional physical training as they have been playing for their respective clubs in the professional league. We, as officials and technical staff, have to focus on the psychogical and morale factors to keep them in a good condition before the Gulf Cup kicks off next month."
The UAE manager said: "It will not be easy for us in Muscat, but we have great confidence in our players and we are sure they will defend the UAE colours in style as they did two years ago.
"I think Oman as the host country will be a favourite to win the title besides Saudi Arabia and Qatar."
Rashid urged UAE sfootball lovers to travel to Muscat and support the team as they defend their Gulf Cup title.
"I am sure the supporters will be behind their boys in Muscat, supporting them as they did in the 18th Gulf Cup in Abu Dhabi when we clinched the title for the first time," he said.
