ABU DHABI // The UAE's Olympic team return to action tonight for the first time since winning the Under 23 Gulf Cup in Qatar more than two months ago. They face their Egypt counterparts in the first of the two friendlies at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain (KO 7pm).
"This team has been held in high esteem by the country's football administration and we want to fulfil that trust by qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics," said Adnan al Taliyani, the UAE football legend who has been appointed as the team manager.
"Everything has gone according to plan after we regrouped early this week to prepare for the two friendlies.
"The players will benefit from such games against strong opponents and the camp in Al Ain has got the players together once again."
The friendlies are part of the team's preparation for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, from November 12 to 27. The UAE's qualification for the 2012 Olympics has been given priority with Srecko Katanec, the senior national team coach, being asked not to pick any of the U23 players from the Asian Games squad for the Gulf Cup in Yemen from November 22 to December 4.
"The players and the technical staff are well aware of the importance given from the football administration to qualify for the London Olympics," al Taliyani added. "We want to achieve that result."
The UAE's youth team, coached by Mahdi Ali, has won two Asian age group titles and the U23 Gulf Cup. They also reached the quarter-finals of the U20 World Cup last year.
Ahmed Khalil, the Al Ahli striker and the one of the nation's top forward prospects, who is leading the U19 team in their Asian Cup title defence in China, along with Omar Abdulrahman, the Al Ain midfielder, are expected to join the Olympic squad on their return.
The top four teams from around 35 nations in the Asian Games will earn a passage to the 2012 Olympics.
Hani Ramzi, the former Egypt international and now the Olympic team coach, said the two friendlies will benefit both teams.
"We are also preparing for the same purpose and such friendlies will definitely benefit both," he said. "Our goal is very much in qualifying for the Olympics from Africa and we have travelled with a strong squad."
apassela@thenational.ae