UAE shot stoppers impress Nino

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TEAM BONDING: UAE goalkeepers (from right) Khaled Al Senani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Ali Khaseif, Khalid Eisa and goalkeeping coach Eduardo Nino enjoy a lighter moment during training. - Supplied photo
TEAM BONDING: UAE goalkeepers (from right) Khaled Al Senani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Ali Khaseif, Khalid Eisa and goalkeeping coach Eduardo Nino enjoy a lighter moment during training. - Supplied photo

Dubai - The former Colombia goalkeeping coach said that Khalid Eisa, Ali Khaseif, Mohammed Al Shamsi and Khaled Al Senani are top class

By James Jose

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Published: Sat 8 Aug 2020, 10:18 PM

Last updated: Sun 9 Aug 2020, 12:33 AM

UAE goalkeeping coach Eduardo Nino has been left impressed by the level of the country's shot stoppers and said that the healthy competition during training will hold them in good stead for the World Cup qualifiers.
The UAE squad are currently undergoing a camp in Serbia in preparation for their remaining Group G qualifying fixtures to be held in October and November. The camp, which began on August 5, will come to an end on August 23.
The four goalkeepers who are part of the camp are Al Ain's Khalid Eisa, Al Jazira's Ali Khaseif, Al Wahda's Mohammed Al Shamsi and Al Dhafra's Khaled Al Senani.
And Nino, who represented Colombia and then went on to be the goalkeeping coach, said that all four of them are top class shot stoppers with high technical capabilities, strong physical attributes and blessed with a quick reaction.
"There is great competition between the four goalkeepers during training which reassures me about their performance when it comes to matches," said Nino.
"Eisa, Khaseif, Al Shamsi and Al Senani are physically strong, technically sound and their reaction time is flawless," he added.
Nino, capped three times by Colombia, was an unused substitute when the UAE played against Colombia in the World Cup in 1990.
The 53-year-old served under former Argentina coach Jose Pekerman and former Real Madrid and UAE manager Carlos Queiroz, during his time with Colombia. He is now part of new UAE coach Jorge Luis Pinto's support staff.
Nino has studied videos of all the four and was impressed by Khaseif's showing against Real Madrid in the Fifa Club World Cup in 2017, Eisa in the Fifa Club World Cup in 2018 against River Plate and Real Madrid, Al Shamsi for the UAE Olympic team and Al Wahda, and Al Senani with Al Dhafra.
"They (Khaseif and Eisa) defended their goal with courage against distinguished teams like Real Madrid and River Plate, who have strong attackers. Al Shamsi shone for the Olympic team and Al Wahda and Al Senani has been impressive as well," said Nino, who was the goalkeeping coach of Colombia at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.
james@khaleejtimes.com


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