ABU DHABI // Ahmad Khalifa Hammad, the chief executive officer of Al Ahli, last night promised his club's fans that David O'Leary's replacement will be a "top quality" coach who would bring success to the team.
Last night's 2-1 defeat at second place Baniyas was the final match for their temporary coach, Abdul Hamid al Mastaka, who took charge after the former Leeds United and Aston Villa coach was dismissed earlier this season.
The O'Leary experiment did not work, even with Fabio Cannavaro, the World Cup-winning captain, on board.
The Italian did not play last night due to a thigh strain, and Hammad was determined to get the next appointment right after what has been a disappointing campaign for the Dubai club.
He said: "We have an excellent list of candidates and we are going to definitely select someone this month.
"The players report back on July 10 for pre-season training and the new coach will be in place before that.
"We would like to do this as soon as possible because there will be a lot of work for him to carry out.
"He will be a foreign coach, not a UAE national.
"He may come from Britain, Europe or South America. I will not discuss names but what I will say is that he will be top quality who will move the club forward.
"We want someone with good experience and who has a track record of working with young players, someone who can help us win trophies. We will make an announcement soon."
If Al Ahli's season did not go as planned, the same could not be said for an excellent Baniyas side that were just unfortunate to come up against the all-conquering Al Jazira.
The first half last night was pretty uninspiring.
Baniyas' first chance came after 11 minutes when Saqer Hammadi's attempted cross was saved by Yousif Abdulla from under his own bar.
On 21 minutes, Tariq Ahmad at least had a shot on goal for the visitors, although his effort was well wide of the target.
However, even in an underwhelming affair, Andre Senghor was destined to score.
His first came in the 39th minute when he powered a header into the top corner as he got on the end of a Haboush Saleh Habou cross.
Senghor almost got a second just before the hour mark when his power took him past Abdelaziz Hussain, the Al Ahli defender, but for once his radar was off and the Senegal international's shot trickled wide.
Baniyas won a penalty on 63 minutes when Habou's shot clearly hit the outstretched hand of Faisal Khalil.
Mustafa Kareem appeared confident as he decided on a short run-up, but then sent his spot kick high into the stand.
Ahli made him pay for that miss four minutes later. The Dubai side's goal came from a free kick the best part of 30-yards from goal, and Tariq Ahmad sent his fiercely hit shot past Mohammed Ghuloom in the Baniyas goal.
But Senghor, the Pro League top scorer, got his second goal, and his 18th overall from an extraordinary campaign, to win the match.
He expertly controlled a high ball on his chest and then volleyed home with eight minutes remaining.
ncameron@thenational.ae
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
SPECS
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Naga
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The%20specs
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
Five hymns the crowds can join in
Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday
Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir
Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium
‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song
‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar
‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion
‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope
The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’
There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia
The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ
They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening
SPEC%20SHEET
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.