Brazilian playmaker Everton Ribeiro, left, scored a late winner for Al Ahli to close the gap on Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Jazira to six points. Courtesy Arabian Gulf League
Brazilian playmaker Everton Ribeiro, left, scored a late winner for Al Ahli to close the gap on Arabian Gulf League leaders Al Jazira to six points. Courtesy Arabian Gulf League

Makhete Diop praises Al Ahli’s ‘never give up’ attitude as Arabian Gulf League title race heats up



DUBAI // Makhete Diop says the manner of Al Ahli’s weekend win against Al Jazira has given the club belief they can hunt down the Arabian Gulf League leaders and retain their title.

The UAE champions secured a hard-fought victory at their Rashid Stadium on Saturday night, coming from behind to triumph 2-1, with Everton Ribeiro scoring five minutes from time to seal the points.

With the win, Ahli jumped from fourth to second in the table, closing the gap on Jazira to six points with six rounds remaining. The Dubai club next take on Al Dhafra on Wednesday, where they can half Jazira’s advantage before their Abu Dhabi rivals face third-placed Al Ain at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium later that night.

Diop, a January signing from Dhafra, said Saturday’s victory has given Cosmin Olaroiu’s men renewed confidence they can catch Jazira and clinch an eighth UAE championship.

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Read more

■ Report: Al Ahli snatch late win over Al Jazira to keep title race alive

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“As the coach says every time, we believe in ourselves, we fight until the end and we never give up in the game,” Diop said. “He told us it will be a difficult game, but ‘never give up, because you are the best team. If you will not give up you will win the game’, and this is what happened.

“It’s how the coach said before: we must win all our games and the results will come. Now we are six points behind and Jazira play the next game against Al Ain, so we will try to win all our games and after we’ll see what happens. Of course, we need Al Ain to win because we need to be near Jazira.”

Although the gap remains significant at this late stage in the season – like Ahli, Jazira have lost only twice this campaign – Ahli can draw strength from the fact that, in recent years, they have been regularly fighting for the championship.

They have lifted the trophy in two of the past three seasons, while manager Olaroiu has guided teams to the title on four separate occasions during spells at Al Ain and Ahli.

In contrast, Jazira have been crowned UAE champions only once before, in 2011, although they did finish runners-up to Al Ain two seasons ago. Diop, though, sees Ahli’s greater experience as being a key factor for the run-in.

“It will be important, because now the gap is six points, they are under pressure and they will play the game against Al Ain,” he said. “And after they have Al Nasr. So we must do everything on our side and in the end we will see what happens.”

Diop’s next assignment comes on familiar territory. The Senegalese striker spent almost six years at Dhafra before his move to Ahli, scoring 134 goals for the Western Region club during that time. Wednesday’s trip will be his first time back since the transfer, but Diop maintains that, once the match begins, he is fully focused solely on helping fire Ahli to another win.​

“This is it,” he said. “Dhafra is my home, but now we have come back in the league and we must fight for the league. So I will go there, see them and before the game enjoy some time with them, but in the game everybody must try to win the three points.”

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Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital


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