Good attendance on first day of training under new coach

The UAE senior football team commenced training in preparation to meet Thailand, on February 18, with all but two players taking part in the first training. The training was led by coach Jean Francois Jodar at the Khalifa Stadium in Al Ain yesterday.

Custodian Mohammed Abdulla, from Al Ittihad Club in Kalba, and Abdulla Mallullah from Emirates Club were the two players who had failed to report. They are expected to join their colleagues today.

Jodar met all the players on their arrival at the Al Ain Hilton and briefed them about the challenges that lay ahead in the Asian qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup and the finals of the Asian Cup in China during July.

Speaking to the players, Jodar said that he was happy to lead the team and believed that the squad had great potential and this in turn made him optimistic that they would achieve success.

"Meeting Thailand is the first step towards the finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. I believe that together we can make it to Germany," Jodar said.

"I have been watching you playing in the qualifiers for the Asian Cup and the Gulf Cup and I know the real capabilities each of you possess. I hope you forget what happened in the Gulf Cup and start afresh." Jodar said.

Jodar explained to the players that his selection policy for the national team was to choose those who played for their clubs in the domestic league which means that they are ready to represent the national team.

"I did not depend upon any former list or any other coach's selection." Jodar confirmed. " This selection is for the first match only and the door is wide open for all the players who prove their worth," Jodar concluded.

Dr. Mohammed Salim Suhail, the vice chairman of the FA TC and the chairman of the national teams committee also attended the meeting.

Stressing that the upcoming campaign would not be easy Yusuf Abdulla, the assistant secretary general of the FA TC, said that they had studied the reasons behind the poor performance of the team in the Gulf Cup in Kuwait and were keen to iron out the flaws before the world cup qualifying campaign commenced.

"We know that Thailand is our strongest opponent in the group. We cannot afford to lose a single point at home. Winning the first match will give the players the motivation continue their winning ways in order to reach the second round of the qualifiers," Abdulla said.

"We need to unite out efforts from all those concerned: whether they are players, management, technical staff, supporters or even the local sports media to achieve success in our campaign."