Matar the joker is Jodar's ace

For someone who's currently the toast of the country, UAE's Under-20 football captain Ismail Matar wears his celebrity tag lightly.

But that's only when he's not sending sharp bursts of electricity through the football stadium with his dazzling runs down the flanks, or through the midfield at the World Youth Cup games. At times like these, Matar knows that he is the boss...and the boss is always right.

Matar leads his inexperienced squad well. The team pool in their resources and coupled with the instructions of their coach they are slowly, but surely, carving out a reputation for themselves.

Make no mistake, the world of professional sport pays homage to reputations and giantkillers are looked upon with a mixture of curiosity and respect.

And judging by the way Matar has plied his trade so far, he and his team are not short of respect. He is the conductor in a choir that is slowly getting to hit the right notes in what can be the biggest opera of their lives thus far.

Matar is confident about his football. There is no set role put aside for him: just the liberty to do what he likes and pull the strings correctly. As a bonus, he will give you a solo just to remind you that every show has a star.

"I am the joker," Matar stated in a brief chat yesterday, in what was a reference to his position on the field. In football parlance he is an attacking midfielder of sorts, a position in which he can inflict the maximum damage to the opposition.

The joker is actually Jodar's ace and the UAE coach has been shuffling the pack effectively to ensure that Matar deals the right cards to his team.

And yet there is pressure for someone so young, Matar is only 18 and already carrying the weight of a country, the fans, the local club which he plays in and, if he hits the jackpot as a pro, even a few corporations on his young shoulders in the future.

"Yes, there is pressure," he admits. "But my teammates give me the confidence to play well. They give me the opportunity to display my talent and trust my capabilities." The biggest star of the team must shine brightly that is one of the few definites of sport.

But it would be prudent, and coach Jodar knows this, that Matar needs to be shepherded with care. There will be times when he will fail to measure up and when that happens, the dominoes in the team will start falling. The coach will be the first to go and the positive burst of energy that his captain exudes will quickly be depleted.

The UAE skipper is mindful of this fact. He's not only skillful, he's also savvy and cognisant of at least some of this burden of consequence.

Matar and his teammates are acutely aware of the significance of the UAE's entry into the World Youth Cup quarterfinals. Prior to this, the critics questioned their right to dream. Now they must move with cautious optimism in a bid to realise that dream.

History counts against the UAE. Since the tournament began in 1977, the host nation has won the title only twice (Portugal 1991 and Argentina 2001).

Can Matar, who was just yesterday voted Asia's third best footballer at any level, lead his forces?

"I want to make the people happy," he said. "That's our target. It's been too long since we have won anything - Al Ain's Asian title notwithstanding."

But Matar too has dreams and they are not just restricted to reaching the World Youth Cup final.

There are visions in his mind that have him running across the flank and crossing a ball that lands right on the striker's boot enabling him to execute a clinical finish in the leagues of Europe. He confirms these thoughts.

"I want to play in Europe as a pro. I want to compare my skills against better players but unfortunately, I have not received any offers yet. Ronaldinho is my idol," he confessed.

No doubt he will receive the best possible advice on footballing matters. His four brothers are keen to see him do well, especially Adil, a first class footballer who played for Al Wahda and now Al Wasl. "My family tries to guide me as much as they can," Matar endorsed.

Ismail Matar is just what the UAE is looking for and it's no coincidence that he has cropped up at the right time and in the right place...the world stage.

He will not be an Adnan Al Taliyani, or even a Zuhair Bakhit. He is simply the next generation.
So go and watch him, playing soon at a stadium near you.