Al Nasr will become the first UAE club to air their own dedicated TV channel in January - which is fitting, given that their summer resembled an episode of Prison Break. For Wentworth Miller's lead role, read Salah Abbas, the 26-year-old playmaker who was sentenced to three years in prison in August following a firearms offence. Many of the sport's most talented players, such as Diego Maradona and Paul Gascoigne, have shown that the genius tag should carry a hazard warning, and Abbas is following their lead.
The troubled former UAE international midfielder is due to appear in the Dubai Misdemeanours Court on Sept 17 on a separate charge of allegedly consuming alcohol. A new coach, the Croat Luka Bonacic, also arrived during the summer. If his reputation is anything to go by, Bonacic is likely to add his own spark to the tinderbox atmosphere at the club sooner or later. Bonacic has a back-catalogue of board fall-outs which make Kevin Keegan look timid and tolerant. He left a variety of his former clubs after disputes with club officials over player selection.
Indeed, his switch to Dubai proved problematic after his former club, the Iranian team Sepahan, initially denied he had left them. The fact Bonacic spent two years in Iran before heading to Dubai should help him acclimatise swiftly. Nasr's rich heritage has been founded on Iranian influence and their challenge this term will be heavily reliant on a trio of Iran internationals, Mohammed Nosrati, Reza Enayati and Mehrzad Madanchi.
The signing of Nosrati, a centre-half who played a key part in Persepolis winning Iran's top league last term, could prove crucial to Nasr's trophy chase. The defender, 26, has already more than 50 international caps. He sought the approval of the Iran manager, the former Al Ain forward Ali Daei, before agreeing to move to the UAE. Mohammed Omar is another new recruit, but remains a very recognisable face.
The 32-year-old forward was the UAE captain when they won the Arabian Gulf Cup on home soil at the start of last year. His subsequent retirement from the international game should benefit Nasr, whom he signed for on a one-year deal after leaving Al Dhafrah. Despite a number of fallow years - Nasr last won the league 22 years ago - the groundstaff were forced to turn fans away from one fixture last season.
The intimate Maktoum Stadium in Oud Metha was swamped by supporters when the UAE took on AC Milan in the Emirates Challenge match. The ground also played host to the Dubai Cup, which involved China, the UAE, Vasco da Gama and Hamburg. Nasr are one of the UAE's oldest clubs. Formed in 1945, they actually predate the UAE FA by 26 years. They begin their campaign against their city rivals Al Ahli, in a derby game that is one of the oldest fixtures in UAE football.
pradley@thenational.ae
