After dominating all Gulf competitions for well over a decade, the UAE snooker squad is in no mood of slackening their grip on their leadership.
"We are the best in the region and we are equally determined to keep our place this year as well," UAE's snooker coach Nic Barrow told Gulf News after the temporary board of the UAE Billiards and Snooker Association (UAE BSA) had named a nine-member squad to represent the country at the GCC snooker championships, to be held next month in Muscat.
The UAE have been undefeated at the Gulf competition for the past 11 years. "The 12th one should also be ours," Barrow retorted.
So serious is their resolve to round off a dozen victories that the squad has already started training in earnest. Later this week, two British players Michael Holt and David Row will join the squad in an in-house camp at the Dubai Snooker Club.
"The fact remains that we can improve. All our players have the capacity of improving on certain aspects of their game.
Fine-tuning necessary
"I am happy with what we have achieved so far. But I am unhappy when our performance does not show a marked improvement," Barrow added.
"There is one reality that exists in the world and that is, one can become better by fine-tuning certain aspects of his game."
The UAE BSA has recently undergone some alterations with the board of directors led by Sultan Bin Sulayem tendering their resignation to the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW).
A temporary body has been appointed, led by Khalifa Eisa Al Jerman with Sultan Al Joker as his assistant.
"We need to keep our focus on the players and what we need to achieve," Barrow said.
The UAE snooker coach was happy with the fine mix of youth and experience in the current squad. "All those who are in the squad rightly deserve their place as they have been consistent through the season," Barrow observed.
"Now we have to make them believe that they are champions."
The GCC snooker championships will be held in Muscat from October 2-7.
Squad: Mohammad Shehab, Mohammad Al Joker, Essa Sayyed, Obaid Khalifa, Zayed Al Mazroui, Yahya Al Suwaidi, Rashid Al Shekeli, Saif Al Ketbi, Ali Bufaaroosha.
Gulf News
