DUBAI // When Winfried Schaefer guided Al Ahli to the league title in 2006, they were trailing Al Wahda by eight points with 10 games left.
The German coach is convinced he can repeat the feat with Al Ain in the inaugural Pro League, where the nine-time champions are in third, four points behind leaders Ahli with seven games to go.
"What is three or six points," said Schaefer after a battling goalless draw at Al Shabab on Friday night. "Three years ago my club Ahli were eight points behind Al Wahda around the same stage and we won the title.
"You see, Barcelona had such a big lead in Spain over Real Madrid and what happened now? [Real had reduced a 12-point lead to four points before last night's games] So I am not worried."
A victory against Shabab would have put Ain level on 35 points with Al Jazira, who lost 4-2 at home to Ahli. Schaefer, how-ever, was not disappointed with a point from the exciting clash at the Maktoum Stadium.
He said: "The boys fought hard and tried their best. In the second-half, they worked even harder to score, but we had to settle for a draw. I am happy for both the teams. This was a really good match for everybody. So we should congratulate both the teams because this was one of the best matches in the recent past.
"Sometimes you can play very bad football, like we did in our last game against Al Khaleej, and win three points. Tonight we played a great game and got one point. This is football."
Toninho Cerezo, the Shabab coach said: "We are happy to get one point, it is important for us."
The draw maintains Shabab's resurgence following the winter break. They have reaped eight of their 18 points from the last four games. "It was time for us to start performing," added Cerezo.
"If we had not made this turnaround, I believe it would have been time for us to go to the airport and fly home."
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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.
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
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Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Ferdous, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,400m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6pm: UAE Arabian Derby Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 2,200m
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Winner: Somoud, Patrick Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
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Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Conditions (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Bairaq, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel