AL AIN // The former captain Mohammed Omar made a goal-scoring return to the national side and then vowed to do everything he could to help the UAE retain the Gulf Cup.
The veteran striker, who was playing his first international match in nearly two years, scored this country's first goal in the friendly against Iraq.
And he said: "For me, the most important job at the moment is to fulfill the trust of my coach. I think I had a pretty good first match but my performance will only matter at the real competition. God willing, I hope I can fulfill that promise."
After the game fans gathered at the entrance to the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium to congratulate Omar on his comeback from internatinal retirement.
Omar,33, who was given the captain's armband, which he wore in the historic Gulf Cup triumph in Jan 2007, said: "It is really funny when you are a striker. Sometimes you score from one opportunity and there are times when you miss out from a flurry of chances. When you score you become a hero and the villain if you miss."
The manager Dominique Bathenay did not single out any individuals but stressed he was concentrating on team work and in finding the right formula for the Gulf Cup from the two friendlies.
The UAE face Kuwait tomorrow at Al Nasr's Al Maktoum Stadium before they fly to Oman on Jan 2 for the Gulf Cup from Jan 4 to 17.
"We tried one combination with Iraq and we'll try another with Kuwait, and then see what is best for the Gulf Cup," said Bathenay.
"This is the first match we have played in more than a month and with a different combination. The result with Iraq, who are a strong team, was quite good for a first warm up game. Yet there are a lot of areas we need to improve and this can only be done with hard work in the next few days before the competition kicks off. We must also be realistic, and work with whatever talent we have got.
"We can take a lot of positives from this game. We had more scoring opportunities than them, and we came back from a goal down to lead 2-1, which was a really good effort. But we surrendered that lead towards the end, which is an area we need to improve."
The Frenchman is expected to recall the forward Ismail Matar, the midfielder Abdulraheem Jumaa and the goalkeeper Majed Nasser.
Abdulsalam Jumaa, the second player to be called up from international retirement, played a massive role controlling the midfield.
He set-up both the goals for Omar and Mahmoud Khamis, and was one of the few players Bathenay used for the entire game.
apassela@thenational.ae
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
