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UAE coach pleased with team’s performance

ABU DHABI — National coach Srecko Katanec was quite happy with the team’s build up as the UAE swamped Kuwait 3-0 in an international football friendly at Al Wahda’s Al Nahyan Stadium late on Tuesday night.

Young striker Ahmed Khalil scored in the 23^rd minute, while the experienced Ismail Matar added the second in the 41^st minute. Substitute Saeed Al Kuthairi rounded it off in injury time. It was a good work out for UAE, ranked 90 in the world, as they put in a stellar show against Kuwait, who are ranked 85.

The friendly game is part of the team’s preparations for the Gulf Cup in Yemen and the AFC Asian Cup finals which will be held in Doha, Qatar, in January, 2011.

“It was a good win. We were very good in the first half but we tapered off in the second half. I was not too satisfied with that. We scored two goals in the first half and we controlled the game. The second half was not so good and I made some changes to the line-up,” said Katanec.

Katanec said that they could draw a lot of positives from the game. “The positives we can take out of this game are firstly, the victory.

We tried to hold possession which is very important. That was also a positive. I’m happy with the performance of the players,” said Katanec, who took over last year.

Some of the UAE’s younger players put up a good show but the Slovenian refused to single out any particular player, saying that it was a team effort. “I never talk about individual players. I was a team effort and what matters is that,” he said.

With the match being played during the Holy Month of Ramadan and in extreme weather conditions, most felt it was the wrong time to slot a game. But Katanec would have none of that and said that international teams and players have to adapt to any condition.

“The conditions were same for both teams. The humidity was not much but it is up to the players to come up with tricks to carry on, on the field. They have to adapt to any condition,” said the 47-year-old Katanec, who was runner-up with VfB Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup in 1988-89, during his playing days.

Katanec said that the positive start will help in putting together a strong team for the Gulf Cup in Yemen as well as the AFC Asian Cup finals to be held in Doha in 2011.

“Last year, we had the friendlies in October. This time, we have started earlier in September. I’m pretty happy with the team’s showing. I’m sure this will help us put together a team which will be tough to beat,” said Katanec, who has coached the Slovenia and Macedonia National teams.

james@khaleejtimes.com