Quique Sanchez Flores comes with reputation while as Al Ahli head coach. Jake Badger for The National
Quique Sanchez Flores comes with reputation while as Al Ahli head coach. Jake Badger for The National

Sanchez Flores stalls in signing Al Ain contract



DUBAI // Al Ain’s pursuit of Quique Sanchez Flores has hit a stumbling block after it emerged the Spaniard is stalling on the move because of a disagreement over contract terms.

The UAE champions had expected to finalise the acquisition of the former Al Ahli manager this week, as Sanchez Flores flew into the Emirates yesterday to complete the appointment. It is believed he has been offered a two-year contract.

However, differences between the parties regarding the specifics of the agreement has cast doubt on the deal.

A source at Al Ain confirmed they remain confident Sanchez Flores will commit to the club, although they are continuing to assess other potential candidates for the role.

The search for a new manager was prompted by the dismissal earlier this month of Jorge Fossati. The Uruguayan coach had arrived in the Garden City only seven weeks previously, replacing Cosmin Olaroiu, but Fossati clashed with the players and team management regarding training and style of play.

It remains to be seen who Al Ain will focus on, in light of the latest developments with Sanchez Flores. Eric Gerets, the highly respected Belgian, had been in advanced negotiations with the club, yet he is thought to be the front-runner to succeed Fatih Terim at Galatasaray.

Gerets, currently in charge of Lekhwiya in the Qatari Stars League, managed the Turkish club between 2005 and 2007.

Michel Preud’homme, another Belgian, was also linked to Al Ain following the conclusion of his contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab, but he returned to his homeland last week and has been installed as the coach of Club Bruges.

Al Ain’s most likely option would have appeared to be Abel Braga, the former Al Jazira coach who guided the Abu Dhabi club to the double in 2011. The Brazilian was the early favourite to replace Olaroiu, but problems arose regarding the amount of compensation Fluminense, his club at the time, were demanding. Braga was fired by the Brazilian side days after Fossati was introduced at Al Ain, yet the club source insisted he is no longer under consideration.

Sanchez Flores remains Al Ain’s preferred candidate, if the impasse can be resolved. During his time at the Rashid Stadium, the Dubai club won the Etisalat Cup and President’s Cup, while his side improved in the league last season to finish runners-up to Al Ain. He departed in June, citing the conclusion of a two-year project, and was promptly succeeded by, ironically, Olaroiu.

Despite the 2013/14 campaign having already begun, Al Ain maintain they are in no rush to appoint a permanent manager. The Arabian Gulf League is on hiatus for 21 days, after this week’s fixtures, giving the club enough time to select the most suitable coach.

Ahmed Abdullah will continue in his role as caretaker coach for Friday’s encounter at Al Dhafra.

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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Founded: 2017

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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.

UPI facts

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Tesalam Aleik

Abdullah Al Ruwaished

(Rotana)

Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time

Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.

Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.

The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.

The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.

Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.

The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.

• Bloomberg

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Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

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Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)


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