Spain to play UAE in friendly

ABU DHABI // The European champions Spain are to play a friendly match against the national side. The game will be part of a five-year cooperation agreement signed between the Football Association and their Spanish counterparts yesterday "To play a friendly international between the two national teams with all the international stars on a date yet to be agreed is part of the deal," said the FA president Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi. "We have signed an agreement, and the next is to look for a date when both teams will be free from their international obligations and schedules. And the other part of the deal will start shortly."

The agreement includes developing the standards of referees, local coaches, officials and the training facilities and friendly matches between the national teams at various age levels. The Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar said the two countries will greatly benefit from the deal, saying: "Spain and the UAE share the same love for football and this partnership will certainly develop our relationship further."

Meanwhile, the Al Jazira coach Abel Braga was disappointed by his team's shock exit from the President's Cup on Saturday. They went down 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out to Al Shabab after their semi-final ended scoreless after extra time at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. "I am deeply hurt by the result,' said Braga. "We made too many mistakes in this game. It was one of those days when nothing went right for us"

The Brazilian Paulo Bonamigo, Shabab's third coach of the season, was delighted, saying: "To reach the President's Cup final is a massive shot in the arm for a team that had struggled and was short of confidence." Shabab will face Emirate, who shocked Al Wahda 1-0 on Friday, in the final. [e-mail]