Injured UAE icon Omar Abdulrahman claims the embattled Asian Cup 2019 hosts can still win the tournament despite a deflating 1-1 draw with Bahrain that raised the curtain on the continental showpiece on Saturday, but immediately dampened hope.
The Whites – who had won just twice in 10 games leading up to their pressurised opening game – required an 88th minute Ahmed Khalil penalty to rescue a draw against opponents ranked 34 places below them in the FIFA world rankings at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
That will only ramp up the scruinty on the national team in their remaining two Group A games against Thailand and India, as well as coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who has a decidedly bleak record in charge of the Whites.
The veteran Italian coach has overseen a meagre five wins in 17 games since taking over from Edgardo Bauza in November 2017, which included a timid Gulf Cup campaign at the beginning of 2018 in which they lost to Oman in the final, yet only scored one goal in five games.
Worse was to follow last October when talented talisman Abdulrahman was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury after a clash in a league game for club side Al Hilal.
The UAE needed a late penalty from Ahmed Khalil (l) to rescue a point against Bahrain.
Scans a few days later revealed the worst – that the 2016 AFC Asian Footballer of the Year had torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
Despite the doom and gloom, the 27-year-old – known affectionately as Amoory – was on the sidelines to cheer his team-mates on against Bahrain.
And the Saudi-born schemer, who is technically on loan at the Saudi Pro League giants from Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ain – where he has been since moving to the UAE as a teenager from Saudi in 2006 – is adamant all is not lost.
“The team carries the hopes and dreams of all the people of the UAE and needs the efforts of all,” the 71-times capped Amoory told the UAE Football Association website.
“We must all be keen to support and encourage players. Whatever the outcome, the championship is still long and the team still has a great chance of progressing further in this tournament.”
Amoory made his senior Whites bow in 2011 and came to the attention of the world when he featured at the 2012 Olympic Games in London for the UAE Under-23s – attracting interest from a host of Europe’s elite clubs, including Manchester City where he enjoyed a successful trial.
A storied move to football’s heartland never materialised but Amoory’s protracted transfer to Hilal provokes further debate over his future.
Omar Abdulrahman left Al Ain for Al Hilal in 2018.
For now, he is back in his adopted homeland, supporting Zaccheroni and Co, and insists his support and encouragement is “the least that can be” provided to the Whites as they look to emulate the exploits of the 1996 UAE side that made it all the way to the Asian Cup final the last time the continental tournament was staged in the Emirates – losing on penalties to Saudi Arabia.
“The Whites led well but did not succeed in achieving the victory that was awaited by fans of UAE football against Bahrain,” said Amoory, pointing out that injury prevented him from performing his national duty on the field, but won’t prevent him from his duty of encouraging and supporting his colleagues from the sidelines.
“Luck did not win in this confrontation, but I wish success to players in both of the next two games against India and Thailand.
“We need to support the Whites to the end, I have confidence in the ability of the team to reach the second round and continue the quest for the title. The public will support the players a lot, and raise their spirits to do their best, to achieve the desired results.”
