Sparky’s Column

A World of the Strange

The world of the strange came to the Etisalat Pro League this weekend (I recommend the theme from "The Twilight Zone" to be played in the background whilst reading the next few paragraphs...). The first strange happening was matches being played in the wind and rain! You could almost see the foreign players thinking 'this isn't why I moved to the UAE,' and the local players looking equally bemused whilst coping with conditions they might have played in only a handful of times. When it rains, UAE football slips into the same mode as the driving: nobody knows how to cope and the various methods employed to deal with the unfamiliar conditions are not always that successful.

The next strange happening was Al Ahli's new bright pink kit, debuted in their home match against Al Ain on Saturday. This wasn't the first time the Club has launched a special edition kit - last season's exclusive was all black - and this time it is luminous pink. It's a great way to get noticed, and the fans love it. I was there last year when the black shirts sold out in an hour with more fans begging for more. The bright pink kit sets the team apart on and off the pitch. Al Ahli are the first club to really successfully exploit shirt sales and there is plenty more potential to be explored.
 
Technically it is not strange for someone to celebrate a birthday, but seeing Ismaeil Matar turn 30 certainly feels bizarre. The Emirati striker has become an elder statesman of the game here, and the one the young players look to for inspiration. I say it is 'strange' to see him turning 30 because it only feels like yesterday that he was starting in the Under-23 World Cup and the 2007 Gulf Cup. He was long touted as the great young Emirati player, but somewhat sadly for him, it's only now that a generation of his class has arrived. I'm sure he won't mind his elder statesman tag as he enjoys success with the current crop of young UAE stars, and it just goes to show how short a footballer's playing career actually is if we are calling him old at 30. Happy Birthday Ismaeil, and here's to plenty more healthy and successful playing years.


It's without question that Al Ain are the strongest side in the League this season, and the reason is without doubt the squad's strength in depth. The talented local players, such as the often-mentioned Omar Abdulrahman, mean the club has a rich pool of players to choose from. The quality extends to the Club's second string as well, and they currently sit top of the Etisalat Reserve League. It gives you the feeling that the Club could be right up there for the long run, dominating UAE football for years to come.