Sparky’s Column

Games Begin

The Olympic week has once again taken centre stage. Everybody is talking Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt, it’s one of the rare times that football is pushed off the back pages. There is a new generation that is being turned onto sport during the Olympics. The UAE football team has played its part in showing its players can compete on the world stage. The stand out players were the poster boy of UAE football for the last 10 years Ismail Matar, who once again proved he can perform in international competition. He was player of the tournament in the 2003 under 23 World Cup. His goals, the opener against Uruguay and the UAE's final goal of the tournament were a true captain’s performance. It is the kind of display that should inspire him to a big season with his Al Wahda. It was great to hear him quoted as saying that he thinks this is just the start for UAE football as he spoke about younger players in the squad.

 

The biggest name to join the league in the last week is not a foreign signing or star coach but the return of Hamdan Al Kamali to Al Wahda. The well-publicized loan move to Lyon has given the player the experience of European football. He didn't start a game whilst in France but returns convinced he is a better player. I am sure he is right, the time spent training day in day out with top professionals can only be beneficial. The benefit for the club is on the training field where he will pass on his expertise to other Emirati players. Al Wahda's opponents will be fearing the return of the big defender as he will add much needed steel to the back line. The club themselves will be confident they can hit the heights of 2010 and regain the league title.

 

Bani Yas have Egyptian star Zidan on their roster for the new season.  The player backs up what Hamdan Al Kamali has shown, the best way for Arab players to step to the next level is through a move to Europe. He is a player in the twilight of his career and spent the formative part of it in Germany.  It will be interesting to see if he can reproduce the 30 goals in 57 Bundesliga matches here in the UAE. He has set down the gauntlet in terms of saying Europe is the best place to hone Arab players so it is time for him to prove it.

 

Maradona has made a brief appearance in the UAE last week to pack his belongings but not before he had a kick about with a few friends. He was at the Dubai Sports World for a post Iftar game and looked happy. I wonder if it is the last we will see of El Diego on these shores.