Ahmed Rizvi offers his thoughts on the biggest talking points from the Arabian Gulf League including Jorge Valdivia’s less than gracious return.
Valdivia’s costly gesture
If Jorge Valdivia’s inappropriate gesture, aimed towards some “Brazilian friends” in the stands, was banter, or a “joke” as he described it, then it has been a very costly one.
The incident took place at half time during Al Wahda’s 1-0 home defeat to Al Shabab last week. Valdivia, who was making his eagerly awaited debut for Wahda, was hit with a Dh15,000 fine and a two-game ban, which means he will not be available for Friday night’s Abu Dhabi derby at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium against Al Jazira.
Although Wahda coach Javier Aguirre tried to downplay the Chilean playmaker’s absence ahead of the match, the real question is: why would a professional, one who has appeared at the biggest tournaments in the world, indulge in such negative behaviour, knowing the consequences? Not ideal.
Not another draw, please
Jazira v Wahda is not the only derby on the Arabian Gulf League schedule this weekend. Two weeks after a drab, goalless draw in the Arabian Gulf Cup, Al Wasl and Al Nasr will renew their rivalry on Saturday with Bur Dubai bragging rights at stake.
Success in the derby has been scarce for Wasl in recent times with their last win coming in the 2008/09 season. And if they play like they did in the last match, they could have to wait even longer.
Fans of both teams, however, will be hoping for a result, at least, because the last four matches between the two sides have ended in draws, three of them 0-0 affairs.
Beware Baniyas
Luis Garcia’s Baniyas seem to be flying under the radar at the moment, but that might not be the case for long. With the inclusion of Royston Drenthe, a former Real Madrid player and Netherlands international, Baniyas have assembled an attacking trio that looks as good as any in the AGL.
Drenthe made all the right noises at his introduction to the local media earlier in the week. Now, let us hope he can make a better impression with the fans than his Dutch compatriot Ryan Babel has so far managed at Al Ain.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
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Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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