Ahead of the start to the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season, The National will preview the fortunes of each of the UAE's 14 top-flight clubs. Here, Ahmed Rizvi examines Al Wasl.
Outlook
One of the best teams in the second half of last season with only one defeat in their final 11 matches, Wasl will be looking to build on that as they hunt for their first trophy since the 2006/07 league and President’s Cup double.
Wasl have made only one change to the foreign quartet that served them so well last season, with the Brazilian trio of Fabio Lima, Caio and Ederson scoring 46 of the team’s 53 goals in the league. Al Shabab’s Edgar Bruno has come in for Ederson (14 goals last season) after Wasl and Atletico Paranaense failed to come to an agreement over extending the striker’s loan.
The club did succeed in turning Caio’s loan into a permanent five-year deal and the management is looking positively towards the new season.
“We hope everything is in place to provide smooth results,” said Majed Obaidallah, the team manager. “Of course, we need to be one of the big four in the league. This is the dream we must have also to win the President’s Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup.”
Foreign quartet
Fabio Lima: Played a key role in Wasl’s strong finish last season, scoring 14 goals in his last 10 league appearances. Will be hoping to keep that run going.
Caio: The commander of the Wasl midfield last season, Caio has earned himself a five-year deal at the Zabeel Stadium and his performance will be key to the club’s ambitions.
Hugo Viana: Played only half a season for Wasl, but the Portuguese had a huge impact. His experience will again be a huge asset as Wasl try to end their trophy drought.
Edgar Bruno: Dumped by Al Shabab after a poor season, the lanky Brazilian striker will be hoping to redeem himself and repay manager Gabriel Calderon for his trust.
Key Emirati players
Served well by their Emirati contingent last season, Wasl have kept faith in them, offering long-term contracts to players such as Hazza Salem, Ahmed Al Shamsi and Salem Abdullah, who had spent the past season on loan from Al Ain.
The club also have a few exciting young talents such as Ali Salmeen and Abdullah Kazim in their ranks and, of course, senior pros like Adnan Hussain, Yaser Salem and Waheed Ismail. So Gabriel Calderon looks to have most bases covered.
Manager
Gabriel Calderon, Argentina: Helped ring in an improved second half after the club began the season listlessly under Jorginho. Will carry the goodwill from that turnaround at least into the first few weeks of 2015/16.
The National’s verdict
Given their strong finish, Wasl will definitely have momentum on their side, but they have to contend with a tough start – Al Jazira in the opening round, Al Ain in the second followed by Al Nasr and Al Ahli. Positive results in those early games could be a massive boost for their campaign. A poor start, on the other hand, could see the management pressing the panic button, which usually means the button with “sack the manager” written on it.
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
