Bento’s UAE enjoy dream international week to reignite World Cup hopes

Paulo Bento celebrates with Harib Abdalla after defeating Qatar at Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 20 November 2024
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Bento’s UAE enjoy dream international week to reignite World Cup hopes

  • Emirati team raises possibility of a return to the game’s biggest stage for the first since 1990
  • A quartet of charged fixtures remain to bridge a three-point gap to second-placed Uzbekistan

DUBAI: Not even the UAE’s Golden Generation enjoyed a night quite like this.

Tuesday’s rampant 5-0 thrashing of Qatar turbo-boosted hopes of making a hallowed World Cup return for the first time since 1990 and emphatically earned redemption for a series of humbling results inflicted by their Gulf neighbour.

Such was the heightened feeling of bonhomie throughout the Emirates that a post-match McDonald’s visit by four-goal Fabio De Lima was interrupted by a grateful Al-Nasr supporter telling the star of Dubai rivals Al-Wasl: “Today, I love you.”

At times of great joy, a sense of perspective is hard to find.

Especially when celebrations follow a thumping of the double Asian Cup holders to earn one of the great occasions in your country’s footballing history, bettering the contentious semi-final defeat on home soil by Qatar in 2019’s edition.

Added momentum comes from last week’s 3-0 Group A victory against Kyrgyzstan, inspired by Shabab Al-Ahli star Harib Abdalla.

Much has been accomplished by the third-placed Whites, who are now within touching distance of the automatic qualification spots, but much remains to achieve on this tricky path to World Cup 2026.

“In this moment, it is normal that some people are really happy and, sometimes, out of control,” said boss Paulo Bento at Al-Nahyan Stadium. “It is important that we keep calm and be humble.

“That is the most important for us. They (the players) know how we, as a technical staff, think.

“We faced a very good team (Qatar), with very good players. Well managed, that have very good principles.

“We tried to choose the best strategy to control their best features and, at the same time, explore their weaknesses. The responsibility for that was the guys.

“They accomplished the game plan in the best way. We know it was difficult to predict how Qatar could play.

“The guys adapted themselves in the right way. To reach a result like this, it is important to be fair.

“In Uzbekistan, we had chances to score, but at the end, we were not effective. Today, we were really effective.

“All of this allowed us to reach this kind of result. But, in football, it is normal that the good ones are the guys that win and the bad ones are the guys that lose.

“Things are not like that. It was because we respect them (Qatar) that we won the game.”

The UAE’s second-ever entry into the world’s most important football event appeared to be slipping away after October’s disheartening 1-1 home draw with bottom-placed North Korea and 1-0 defeat against 10 men in Uzbekistan.

This once-perilous situation has changed for the better during a crunch November that has returned them to contention.

It also shifts the narrative around a UAE side typically viewed as talented, but unable to consistently deliver in clutch moments.

No one questioned the peerless ability of AFC Players of the Year Omar Abdulrahman and Ahmed Khalil, ruthless 2015 Asian Cup top scorer Ali Mabkhout and much of the preceding Golden Generation.

They even gained silverware at the 2013 Arabian Gulf Cup and represented their country with distinction at the London 2012 Olympics.

This cherished cohort did not, truthfully, come close to making World Cup 2014 or 2018. False dawns included memorable qualifying wins against Japan and Saudi Arabia, eventually rendered worthless by dropped points versus also-rans.

Neither could the emergent squad that followed for 2022’s cycle. They narrowly fell to Asian heavyweights Australia in the fourth round, without the injured De Lima.

The confines are still punishingly tight for 2026. Bento, his players and the UAE en masse, however, now hold tangible reasons to believe.

They are the third round’s joint-second top scorers with 12 goals — only an omnipotent Japan have more with 22. Their four goals conceded is bettered only by the Japanese (two) and Iraq (three).

Clubmates Yahya Al-Ghassani and Abdalla were at their freewheeling best this month. A centre-back pairing of Al-Jazira’s graceful Khalifa Al-Hammadi and Al-Ain’s redoubtable Kouame Autonne competes with anything on the continent.

Enviable strength in depth was provided by Fleetwood Town utility man Mackenzie Hunt, Wasl’s Tahnoon Al-Zaabi and veteran striker Caio Canedo.

Words can scarcely do justice to De Lima, his adopted country’s first “super hat-trick” scorer in World Cup qualifying. Three of these came before half-time, including a sumptuous free kick.

Further encouragement is provided by possible debut call-ups for more naturalised players when qualifying resumes with avisit to World Cup regulars Iran on March 20, 2025. These could include prolific Sharjah forward Caio Lucas, plus Al-Wahda’s promising defenders Lucas Pimenta and Alaeddine Zouhir.

A quartet of charged fixtures remain to bridge a three-point gap to second-placed Uzbekistan and their section’s final automatic spot, with leaders Iran a further three points ahead. The penultimate clash with the Uzbeks on June 5, 2025 looms large.

Qatar are only three points further behind. Their ambitions of gate-crashing the top two are not extinguished, despite the UAE’s pair of redeeming third-round wins against them.

Fail to make the most of this month’s 100 percent haul and the fourth-round lottery awaits. Even more jeopardy would follow for the UAE in the fifth round/inter-confederation play-offs.

Bento’s measured approach has patiently put his charges in a position to secure direct entry. A shot at legendary status is theirs to grasp.


Klopp to Roma could be a rumor created by amateur sleuths

Updated 48 min 6 sec ago
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Klopp to Roma could be a rumor created by amateur sleuths

  • The rumor of his imminent arrival stems from a social media post
  • Roma owner the Friedkin Group posted a video on Friday celebrating the capital club and its legacy

ROME: Roma fans have been driven into a frenzy by Italian media reports that Jürgen Klopp has agreed to be the team coach from next season.

However, the rumor of his imminent arrival stems from a social media post that some may be reading far too much into.

Roma owner the Friedkin Group posted a video on Friday celebrating the capital club and their legacy.


The video included images of iconic Rome sites: Colosseum (Kolosseum in German), Lupa Capitolina, Olimpico, (St.) Peter’s and Pantheon in that order.

Someone pointed out the starting letters of those words — some in Italian, some in German, some omitting part of the name — spell Klopp. And it spiralled from there.

In the past two days, people on social media have been saying they have spotted former Liverpool coach Klopp, his agent and even his dog in Rome.

Italian newspaper La Stampa proclaimed that Klopp accepted Roma’s offer shortly after the Giallorossi’s final home match of the season on Sunday, when a packed Stadio Olimpico paid tribute to current coach Claudio Ranieri, who is set to depart at the end of the season.

Other media outlets picked up La Stampa’s story, but the same newspaper said on Tuesday that Roma have “categorically denied” the news.

Klopp, who is Red Bull’s head of global soccer, left Liverpool in 2024 after steering the team to seven major trophies over nearly nine years.

The Friedkin Group also owns Liverpool’s city rival, Everton.


‘I’m not a clown’: Spurs boss Postecoglou hits out ahead of Europa League final

Updated 20 May 2025
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‘I’m not a clown’: Spurs boss Postecoglou hits out ahead of Europa League final

  • Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be “helpful“
  • “I’ve said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport”

BILBAO, Spain: Ange Postecoglou angrily defended his managerial record ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League final against Manchester United after a disastrous Premier League season, stating: “I’m not a clown.”

Spurs face United in Bilbao on Wednesday with a chance to win their first trophy for 17 years, which would mean qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Postecoglou, whose side are 17th in the Premier League — a place below United — has been under mounting pressure over recent months as results have nosedived.

Many observers believe the Spurs manager could be out of a job regardless of the result at the San Mames stadium in northern Spain against Ruben Amorim’s fellow strugglers.

Postecoglou was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday whether he was aware he was walking a fine line between infamy and history ahead of the match.

“That depends on your outlook but I’ll tell you one thing — irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown, I never will be mate,” he said, directly addressing a reporter who had used the word in an article.

“It’s really disappointing that you use such terminology about a person who for 26 years, without any favors from anyone, who’s worked his way to being in a position where he’s leading out a club in a European major competition, for you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I’m a clown.”

The former Australia and Celtic boss said he had worked tirelessly to turn things around at Spurs, who have not won a trophy since 2008 and have not tasted European success since 1984.

“I’ve tried as hard as I can to stick to that process in getting the club to a position where they can challenge for trophies and at the same time, rejuvenate the squad and change the playing style,” he said.

“It has been a fair assignment with plenty of challenges along the way.

“With such a big game tomorrow, there is an opportunity to fulfil at least the main task I was given which was to bring trophies to the club.”

Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be “helpful.”

“I’ve said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport. You’ve just got to try and make sure you take every opportunity before you and that’s what I’ve done my whole career,” he added.

“I’ve been in this position before, where the big game was the last game I managed. It’s not unusual territory for me.”

He said: “My future is assured. I wouldn’t be the first person who changes jobs. We all change jobs. I’m sure you’ve had more than one job. My future is assured. I’ve got a beautiful family, I’ve got a great life.

“I’ll keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever that is. Don’t worry about my future mate.”

But the 59-year-old feels he still has a job to do at Spurs, who finished fifth in the Premier League in his first season in charge, in 2023/24.

“I really feel like we’re building something and what a trophy does is hopefully accelerates that,” he said.

“So I still think there’s a lot of work to be done. That’s quite obvious with the challenges we’ve had this year, but also there’s been some growth that I’d like to see through.”

Postecoglou confirmed that Lucas Bergvall would not be fit to face United. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are also out.

But Pape Matar Sarr is available after he was taken off in the 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on Friday.


Thailand win ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

Updated 20 May 2025
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Thailand win ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

  • Thailand beat Nepal by 78 runs in the final match of the Super 3 stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

The final match of the Super 3 stage of the ICC Asia Women’s T20 Qualifier for the 2026 World Cup saw Thailand face Nepal on May 20th in Bangkok. Both teams had already progressed to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier by virtue of defeating the UAE in the Super Three stage. Therefore, the prize was to become overall winners of the tournament.

Prior to the match, Indu Barma, the captain of Nepal, talked of Nepal’s long journey, stretching back 17 years. She noted that reaching the Global Qualifier will represent their first time of playing on the world stage.

In December 2008, Nepal played in the Asia Cricket Council’s (ACC) U19 Women’s Championship held in Chiang Mai, where the team won every match, including victories over Thailand in the semifinals and Malaysia in the final. It looked as though Nepal was about to dominate associate women’s cricket in Asia.

It was not to be, largely because Thailand won the 2013 ACC Women’s Championship in Chiang Mai, thereby qualifying for the Global Qualifier for the first time, traveling to Ireland later that year. Since then, Thailand has played in each Qualifier, even making it to the T20 World Cup held in Australia in 2020.

Over that time, the UAE has made steady progress, reaching three global qualifiers. Defeats to both Thailand and Nepal in Bangkok have put an end to hopes of a reaching fourth and is a real setback for them. They were well beaten in both matches of the Super 3.

In the first match, Thailand scored 144 for 5 in 20 overs. Nattaya Boochatham laid the base with a patient 49, whilst Natthakan Chantham hit powerfully to post an unbeaten 46 from 20 balls. Nannapat Khonchaeronkai gave further impetus to the innings with 39, Thailand scored 98 in the second half of the innings.

UAE lost wickets from the start, falling to 39 for four in the ninth over. Heena Hotchandani’s 32 took UAE to 90 for 5 in 20 overs, 54 runs short, as Thipatcha Putthawong claimed 2 for 27.

In the second match, the following day, Nepal asked UAE to bat first. Esha Oza made sure UAE preserved their wickets in the first half of the innings, a sound strategy at this level, but she was out at the crucial time for a run a ball thirty-nine, as left-arm spinner, Manisha Upadhayay, took the first of her four wickets.

A total of 114 for 7 looked to be a little light, especially as the UAE’s bowlers fought hard to reduce Nepal to 62 for 4 in the 13th over. Then, Rubina Chhetry, who has played throughout the last seventeen years, joined the current captain, Indu Barna. In a determined partnership, as rain threatened to fall, their experience guided Nepal to 99 for six, when Chhetry was out. It was left to Barma to guide the team to a five-wicket win with only three deliveries to spare.

Nepal’s delight was the UAE’s heartbreak. The only question which remained in the tournament was could Nepal also beat the powerful Thailand side that had been dominant for the past decade and more?

Nattaya Boochatham has been one of the players at the heart of Thailand’s success with both bat and ball. Younger players, such as her opening partner, Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, are being introduced. She helped Thailand reach 34 in the powerplay as they again tried to establish a solid base. It was not until the thirteenth over that Aphisara was out for 29 in an opening partnership of 75.

Boochatham reached her second fifty in T20Is from 40 balls and Nannapat Khoncharoenkai started well as Thailand were 98 for 1 off fifteen overs. Khonchcharoenkai hit a trio of boundaries before Boochatham was caught at deep mid-wicket, Thailand losing a second wicket on 111.

Twelve runs were added in the 17th and 18th overs. Khoncharoenkai hit another pair of boundaries in the 19th over to move on to 48 and, after Natthakan Chantam hit two fours, Khoncharoenkai reached her seventh T20I fifty in 28 balls. The final total was 158 for 2, which is Thailand’s third best in T20Is.

Although eleven runs were scored off the first over, Nepal never got to grips with the chase, falling to 16 for 2 after four overs. This situation worsened when Onnicha Kamchomphu bowled the Nepal captain, Indu Barna. A score of 30 for three became 34 for four and 54 for five after fifteen overs. In the nineteenth over, Kamchomphu broke the back of Nepal’s innings with a hat-trick, culminating in impressive figures of four for eleven in four overs. Despite resistance from Rubina Chhetry, Nepal scored only 80 for the loss of nine wickets after 20 overs.

Throughout the tournament Thailand reasserted its superiority. Nannapat Khoncharoenkai was named player of the match for her brilliant fifty and she also won the player of the tournament award. Thiphatcha Putthawong was given the bowler of the tournament award with eight wickets and Esha Osha was awarded the batter of the tournament award with 175 runs.

Osha was disappointed with her dismissal in the match against Nepal, as a few more runs scored by the UAE may have been too many for Nepal to chase successfully. She felt the loss to Nepal had wasted two years of cricket for the UAE. This is likely to be only a temporary setback. Nepal’s never give up attitude should be a lesson to all.

UAE will have ODI cricket to look forward to for the first time. The countries ranked between twelve and sixteen at this level in the world rankings all want to play 50-over cricket and the UAE will have further opportunities to play more competitive T20 cricket as well. Osha is a fine player at this level and should be able to lead UAE to renewed success in women’s cricket. There is much to look forward to for each of the Super 3 teams.


Golf Saudi brings free GoGolf coaching to South Korea at Aramco Korea Championship

Updated 20 May 2025
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Golf Saudi brings free GoGolf coaching to South Korea at Aramco Korea Championship

  • The initiative was run alongside the $2 million Aramco Korea Championship

SEOUL: Golf Saudi’s grassroots coaching initiative, GoGolf, made its international debut in South Korea this month, offering free golf lessons to more than 300 children and Saudi expats during the Aramco Korea Championship.

The initiative was run alongside the $2 million Aramco Korea Championship, part of the new-look PIF Global Series, held at New Korea Country Club from May 9 to 11.

At the tournament, Czech golfer Sara Kouskova led her team to victory, while home favourite Kim Hyo-joo clinched the individual title after three days of play.

Away from the competition, Golf Saudi delivered three days of onsite coaching clinics as part of its GoGolf program, aimed at introducing new players to the game. Sessions took place on the tournament driving range and were led by Golf Saudi coaches and brand ambassadors.

“At Golf Saudi we are passionate about bringing more and more people into the game we love, helping it continue to grow both in Saudi Arabia and around the world,” said Muath Al-Alsheikh, program manager at GoGolf.

“We know that means enabling access and breaking down barriers of entry wherever possible, so that’s why GoGolf offers all Saudis free lessons — and why we were thrilled to host complimentary GoGolf clinics in Seoul.

“It was great to see so many young golfers come and be part of the sessions, including some who were repeat participants — amongst them, several of the Saudi expats. This shows the effectiveness of clinics like these in driving a growing interest in golf,” Al-Alsheikh added.

The GoGolf scheme, launched in Saudi Arabia, offers newcomers three months of free lessons, followed by discounted rounds, coaching, and memberships.

According to Golf Saudi, the program has delivered more than 70,000 free lessons to date, contributing to a 300 percent increase in Saudi golf participation since 2022. About 3,000 Saudi women have taken up the sport since 2021.

In Seoul, participants included local children aged five to eight who were introduced to the game through a partnership with First Tee Korea, a non-profit focused on youth development through golf.

Sessions were also open to Saudi expats living in South Korea, some of whom had previously taken up the sport in the Kingdom.

“I really enjoyed GoGolf,” said Abrar Abdulwahab, one of the approximately 100 Saudis who took part.

“I tried golf last year in Saudi Arabia, and now, trying again here, I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my skills. When I return to my home, I’ll continue learning more, it’s been a wonderful experience,” he said.

Fellow expat Fahad Al-Qahtani added: “I’m extremely grateful for this program and its organizers. Not only did I take part in the coaching session, but I also learned about the history of golf in Saudi Arabia, which was really interesting.”


Barcelona set August target for matchday return to Camp Nou stadium

Updated 20 May 2025
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Barcelona set August target for matchday return to Camp Nou stadium

  • Barcelona have played in the city’s Olympic Stadium for two years
  • The original target was a November 2024 return to a partially finished venue

BARCELONA: Barcelona aim to return belatedly to their Camp Nou stadium after two years of reconstruction work for a preseason friendly on Aug. 10.

Club president Joan Laporta set the date for the traditional season-opening Joan Gamper Trophy game when he spoke in a television interview late Monday.

Barcelona have played in the city’s Olympic Stadium for two years — and won La Liga this season — during the massive overhaul to create a 105,000-capacity home that would be the biggest soccer stadium in Europe.


The original target was a November 2024 return to a partially finished venue, then Barcelona said in February they hoped to play games in Camp Nou before the end of this season with 60,000 spectators.

The February update also detailed plans to complete the project by adding a roof at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Camp Nou is a potential candidate to stage the 2030 World Cup final which Spain will co-host with Portugal and Morocco. The more likely options are Real Madrid’s renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and a 115,000-seat venue planned in Casablanca, Morocco.