UAE football president staying grounded

andrewbinner 00:47 14/01/2015
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  • Top form: Ali Ahmed Mabkhout of UAE reacts after scoring during the Asian Cup football match against Qatar.

    The president of the United Arab Emirates Football Association, Yousef Al Serkal, has promised that all efforts are being made to stop the team's players from getting carried away after their 4-1 win over Qatar in the opening Group C match of the 2015 Asian Cup.

    – #360view: Ahmed Khalil is the UAE’s unsung hero in Asian Cup
    – Qatar thrashing gives UAE confidence, says coach Mahdi Ali

    In what was the most impressive result of the entire first round of matches in Australia, two goals each from Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil gave Mahdi Ali's men a come from behind victory on Sunday and a great chance of making the last eight.

    “I am very happy and the first win gives us advantage for qualifying for the next round,” the Asian Football Confederation Vice-President told Sport360. “It doesn't secure it but it gives us an advantage and winning against a neighbouring country that also won the Gulf Cup in November is also a significant feeling. The boys played a good match and looked good as a team and overall that satisfied me a lot.”

    With Bahrain coming next on Thursday evening in Canberra, Al Serkal is taking nothing for granted and is sure that the players will guard against complacency.

    “It is a big danger, especially in our part of the world. We really get over-excited and overconfident -but we know that. We are working with our boys on the psychological side to settle down and now we go must concentrate on the next game against Bahrain.”

    Yousef Al Serkal has warned the UAE from becoming complacent after good performances in the Asian Cup so far.

    Bahrain, who finished bottom in their group in November's Gulf Cup, lost 2-0 in their first match against group favourites Iran. While the men from Manama would seem to offer a better chance of securing all three points, Al Serkal admitted that in some respects, Iran would be more suitable opposition for the next game.

    “If it was Iran, it would be much better as the concentration would continue on the same level but while Bahrain technically be a little weaker, they are very aggressive and play very hard. It is a neighbour and this makes it tough. They have to win and this is going to be a hard game.”

    The whole of Group C is comprised of familiar faces and foes, not something that excites Al Serkal when the team is playing in Australia, far away from its usual regional back yard.

    “When I saw the draw, I said 'ugh'. That was my first feeling -another Gulf Cup. We just finished playing against teams at the same standards. Luckily Bahrain and Qatar were not in our group at the Gulf Cup but it is the same level and the same kind of teams.”

    The president hopes that a different kind of test – against the likes of Japan, Korea and Australia – will come and that is the plan. It is not just about getting out of the group. “Since 1996 when we reached the final to play against Saudi Arabia at home, we haven't really made the latter stages in this competition. That is our main goal here-at least the semi finals. These same players were Asia U19 champions, qualified for the London Olympics and that gives us ambition.”

    But the president is thinking of the long-term. All in Asia know that this present generation of stars such as the two goalscorers against Qatar as well as Omar Abdulrahman are talented with futures that could lie in some of Europe's big leagues. Yet, UAE has produced good players in the past without managing to do so on a consistent and long-term basis.

    “It is one of most important jobs I have,” Al Serkal said. “For 2018, these stars will be at the right age but in 2022, they may be too old. We are still working hard to develop the teams at the U17, U19 and Olympic level. We have a steady program. We have a chance to qualify for 2018 and we also, of course, want to be at the 2022 World Cup.”

    While UAE football certainly looks to be going places, Al Serkal is slowing down. Later this year, the AFC vice-president will relinquish his continental responsibilities, cutting down on those trips to Kuala Lumpur and the committee meetings. At the AFC, he is quite a rare breed of official who is relatively popular all over, even if he did lose the 2013 presidential election to Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

    There will be another year in the top job of UAE football. “I will continue in my role as FA president until the 2016 election and then I will evaluate.”

    By that time, the hope is that the national team will be well on their way to Russia, helped by a great showing at the Asian Cup in Australia. But first comes Bahrain and nobody is getting carried away, just yet.

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