Abu Dhabi: The UAE Olympic Team will face their Egyptian counterparts in a friendly at Al Ain's Khalifa Stadium at 7pm this evening in the first of two matches scheduled in preparation for the Asian Games in China from November 7.
Mahdi Ali, the head coach of the UAE, who guided the side to the Gulf Cup title in August, said on the eve of the match: "Egypt are a good and strong team and I do hope that my players will benefit from the match as we expect tough competition in the Asia Games in China."
The UAE will miss the services of top striker Ahmad Khalil and midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman, who are currently playing in the Asian Youth Championship in China.
The UAE are expected to do well at the Asian Games following successes in the Asian Youth Championship in 2008 and the Gulf Cup in August this year.
"The players have great mutual understanding. We have been together for a long time and we know how each of our colleagues plays," pivot Amir Abdul Rahman said yesterday.
"This understanding has helped us to win the titles we have won. The players have winning mentality after winning many titles and we hope to add the gold of the Asian Games to our record," he added.
Three players invited
Ali has invited Al Jazira custodian Ali Khaseef and his teammate, defender Abdullah Mousa, besides Al Wahda striker Saeed Al Kathiri to join the team as the seniormost members. Three players aged over 23 are allowed to take part in the competition and also in the qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympic Games which kick off in February 2011.
"We don't feel as strangers in the team," Mousa said on behalf of Khaseef and Al Kathiri .
"We have been watching this team play in different competitions and we have soon created mutual understanding with the other players and I am confident that this team will achieve good result in the Asian Games."
The Egyptian team arrived on Tuesday and held their main training session at the venue of the match.
Under-19 event: Jordan force draw
The UAE settled for a goalless draw with Jordan in their second match of the ongoing Asian Under-19 Youth Championship, renewing their hopes of taking second place behind Group C leaders Japan, who defeated Vietnam 4-0 earlier to enter the second round.
The UAE dominated the match almost right through but failed to dent a solid Jordanian defence.
Juma Rabie, the UAE's head coach pressed two men into attack in Ahmad Khalil and Salem Saleh but the move failed to produce goals.
Playmaker Omar Abdul Rahman's productivity suffered as he was played wide on the left flank by Rabie.
The UAE have to beat Vietnam tomorrow (10.30am) and hope that Japan will not lose to Jordan in order to ensure a place in the second round. A draw will be good enough to see Vietnam through.
