For football fans living in North America, the licence to become a supporter of a club is not necessarily the by-product of hereditary lineage - unlike many other pro sports leagues in Europe and abroad, where the environment in which you were bred often dictates the team you follow.
As I began to understand football and the passion it exudes, I found it natural to seek a club who granted me the power to at least simulate life as a European fan. I wanted the right to celebrate, yearned for inclusion, and sought to revel in victory - albeit in front of a television screen instead of live in a stadium.
I witnessed a defender by the name of Paolo Maldini, a force in Serie A football for more than 25 years. It was he who provided the necessary link to AC Milan and, eventually, the keys to its clique. Although the old adage intimates that the club choose you, it was I who chose the club.
The replica tops in my closest reflect my fickle nature in the building stages of my allegiance to Milan (I even donned the blue-and-black stripes of the Nerazzurri, their great rivals Inter, before realising my heart laid within the other faction of that city).
I was my own agent, and that is what endowed me with the opportunity to translate my adoration of Maldini into a fully-fledged endorsement of Milan.
Would I have forged ties to another club if a different player affected me to the same degree as Maldini? Possibly. I feel like I am piercing my heart when I say that, as it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which I throw on a top other than that of the Rossoneri.
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Ukraine
Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
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