Friday, Jun 07, 2013

Dubai: The UAE beach soccer national team coach has set out a testing programme of preparations as he bids to mastermind the country’s best-ever performance at a Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup this year.

The UAE have been training for the last three weeks and coach Marcelo Mendes has now sought the help of neighbouring Oman and Eastern Europeans Belarus in playing friendly matches this weekend as part of the build-up for the World Cup, which will be held in Tahiti from September 19-28.

The official draw for the 16-team competition was held in Papeete, Tahiti, on Thursday and the UAE were clubbed in Group A along with hosts Tahiti, strong contenders Spain and the US.

The UAE have never been beyond the group stage of a World Cup in three previous attempts, so Mendes is doing everything he can to ensure the class of 2013 are well prepared — starting when the country’s ‘A’ team face Oman and the ‘B’ side take on Belarus at Dubai’s Al Mamzar Beach Park on Saturday. The two UAE teams will swap opponents on Sunday.

“We now know who our opposition is and we need to prepare accordingly. We may have won both the times against Tahiti in the past, but they will have the home advantage this time,” Mendes said after Thursday’s draw.

“With players such as Nico and Amarelle, Spain are always a strong favourite, while the USA can be a tricky opponent.”

In the first week of July, the UAE squad will travel to the Belarusian city of Vitebsk to participate in the Belarus International Tournament, which also features Turkey, Holland, Ukraine, Iran and the hosts.

That will be quickly followed by a trip to Haiyang, China, to participate in the AFC Cup against Palestine, Iran, China and Thailand from July 12 to 14.

“I need to give the ‘B’ team the opportunity to perform as there are a few players who could be ready to make the move into the main team. I want to judge them right through the summer and see who is good enough to join the side for the World Cup in Tahiti,” Mendes said.

By Alaric Gomes Senior Reporter

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