We will give it everything, says new UAE coach Pinto

Dubai - The Colombian, who steered Costa Rica to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, landed in the UAE on Tuesday

New UAE coach Jorge Luis Pinto has said that it is a new challenge that he is embarking on and added that he will give it his everything to help the country qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
The Colombian, who steered Costa Rica to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, landed in the UAE on Tuesday and didn't waste any time and held a meeting with Yousef Hussain Al-Sahlawi, the vice president of the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) and head of the Team and Technical Affairs committee, at the UAEFA headquarters in Al Khawaneej.
And he will immediately get down to working with his new wards in the first of the three camps which begins at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain from Wednesday.
Prior to his departure from Bogota, Colombia, Pinto had tweeted: "We are heading towards a new international challenge with the UAE. It is a beautiful project and difficult. We will always give everything."
Meanwhile, his wife Claudia Cecilia Uribe had tweeted: "Jorge Luis Pinto has a new dream with a great challenge....World Cup 2022. The best is yet to come."
The 67-year-old was offered a contract by the UAEFA at the end of last month, to oversee The Whites' campaign in the joint 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Pinto, who has also managed his native Colombia as well as Honduras, takes over the reins following the departure of Serbian Ivan Jovanovic.
Pinto will be tasked with breathing life to a campaign which is on the edge following twin defeats to Thailand and Vietnam.
The UAE are fourth in Group G behind leaders Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.
The Whites had begun their campaign with a 2-1 victory away against Malaysia and followed that up by swamping Indonesia 5-0 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
But then, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Thailand and a solitary goal loss to Vietnam, has left them in this situation.
The UAE have to win their remaining four fixtures to make it to the third round of qualifying. First up, they host Malaysia at home on October 8 before travelling to Indonesia for their second fixture on October 13.
Their remaining two matches are at home to Thailand on November 12 and Vietnam on November 17.
The UAE's only appearance at the World Cup was in Italy in 1990.
james@khaleejtimes.com