HATTA // Ali Mabkhout said the fact no one expected Al Jazira to challenge for the Arabian Gulf League title this season spurred their march to the title.
The Abu Dhabi club, UAE champions only once previously, have captured a second top-flight crown with two rounds to spare, their 5-0 victory at Hatta on Saturday enough to seal the trophy ahead of Al Ahli.
Jazira’s second UAE championship seems all the more remarkable given that last season they flirted with relegation midway through the campaign. However, the club then took the decision to replace under-performing manager Abel Braga with Henk ten Cate and, with the Dutchman in charge, the team rebounded to finish seventh. They won also the President’s Cup.
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Read more
■ AGL awards: Ali Mabkhout up against Omar Abdulrahman and Ahmed Khalil for best Emirati player
■ Al Jazira achieve 'something really special' by winning the Arabian Gulf League title
■ Ali Mabkhout, team spirit and the factors that led to Al Jazira's AGL title success
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Asked in the aftermath of Jazira’s win against Hatta if he thought after what happened last season that title success this year would be possible, Mabkhout said: “Of course, we always believe in ourselves. This is of big importance. Last season was a rubbish season, but we won the President’s Cup. The big thing that helped us this season is that no one said we will win - this helped us so much.
“I am so happy and so proud of my coach, the players and the team. They made a good season and now it is time to celebrate. We have an amazing coach and fantastic players. Everybody has done their job and more, and this is shown on the pitch.”
Mabkhout has done his job particularly well, as evidenced in Saturday’s convincing triumph at Hatta. The UAE striker scored a hat-trick to take his league tally for the campaign to 31 goals.
Seven goals ahead of nearest challenger Al Wasl forward Fabio De Lima in the race for the Golden Boot, the treble extends Mabkhout’s own single-season record for an Emirati in the professional era. Should he finish with the Golden Boot, as expected, he will become the first local-born player to achieve the feat since the league turned pro in 2008.
Mabkhout insisted that he could not have done what he has this term without his Jazira teammates.
“I am so proud of myself and my team,” he said. “They have helped me so much. Without my friends, I would not do anything. But I am so happy to score 31 this season and I will try to score even more if I can.”
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
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Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
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.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
