Sparky’s Column

Small is Beautiful

Dubai Club are the oft forgotten team in the city. They have been a yo-yo club in the last few years, in and out of the top division, never troubling their bigger cousins. The stadium is even out on a limb in the Al Awir area just off the 611 near to a prison and sewage works. This does not sound the most attractive place to visit but not everything is about location, a football club is about it's fans and it's spirit. The games versus Al Ain was nowhere near a classic but what it lacked in quality it made up for in passion. The game finished 2-1 to Asamoah Gyan's team but it could easily could have been 5-4. The crowd noise was unbelievable, I have been to a lot of games in the Pro League and it's rare that the fans are so loud you can't hear yourself think. The Al Ain fans tried to raise the noise above the Dubai Club contingent who just responded by increasing the volume, making it a cracking atmosphere. When one of the big boys come up against Dubai then it is well worth a visit to this gem of a club in the desert. 
Al Ain's biggest ever signing Asamoah Gyan graced the field at the weekend. He looks every part the Premier League footballer; he is quick, has great movement and can strike a ball harder than anyone I have seen at this level. A shot in the second half left scorch marks on the keepers gloves, I am convinced he will score goals and prove to be one of the most lethal strikers in the leagues history. The final piece of the jigsaw could be a midfielder who can really pull the strings at the centre of the pitch and provide the ammunition for Gyan.
The outstanding performance of the weekend came from former Wolfsburg striker Grafite. He looked every inch the player who was top scorer in the Bundersliga two years ago. His first job was selling garbage bags and he cleaned up against Sharjah. He scored a hat rick which looked effortless and   he could have had more until his game came to pemature end. He seemed to catch his foot on the floor as he tried to ride a hefty tackle, I am not sure the extent of the injury but it did not look good as he was stretched off. I hope for the sake of him, Al Ahli and the league that it's not a serious as it first looked.
The hype surrounding Maradona has yet to die down, I don't think it will for a while yet. The Wasl crowds have been amazing and when you think they have not actually played at home, it's all the more exciting. Football is all about what happens on the pitch, except when Maradona's your coach. The players could be forgiven for thinking that he is taking the limelight away from them. It could provoke jealousy but this is the beauty of Maradona, it's like he is on the pitch with them. They players love him and in turn he defends them to the hilt in press conferences. They are like his family and you don't critisise one of his boys. When they score the first person they celebrate with is the coach, to a man they are over to the bench to hug Maradona. I have never seen this before and his bond with the players could be the thing that makes him a success in the UAE.
The shocking and sad news that Theyab Awana was tragically killed in a car accident is one that will be mourned both in the country and across the world. He became a global phenomenon  with the now infamous back heel penalty. It was called disrespectful at the time but hundreds of thousands of fans across the world loved watching it. You can not watch it without smiling, he was a young man who wanted to entertain and he was loved across the world for it. It was a moment of fun in a sport that is sometimes taken a bit too seriously.    
I will remember him personally for a free kick against Sharjah for Bani Yas last season. It must have been 25-30 metres out, Awana stepped up, he then hit a shot that dipped and swerved before crashing into the net. After the game I was speaking to Brian Murgatroyd who does the English commentary for TV and we were both raving about  an outrageous strike that seemed to defy the laws of physics. 
He will be missed as a player who was talented and most importantly played the game with a smile on his face.