Al Wahda skipper Ismail Matar has been named in the UAE’s preliminary 24-man squad for this summer’s Olympic football tournament.
The 29-year-old is one of four senior members drafted in by UAE coach Mahdi Ali ahead of the London Games, although Olympic rules permit only three will be eligible for final selection.
Al Jazira duo Ali Khasaif and Abdullah Mousa have also been included by Ali as has Al Ahli winger Ismail Al Hammadi.
The final cut to 18 will be made closer to the final which kick off on July 26 to August 11, and while no captain has been appointed it is expected Matar, Golden Ball winner at the 2003 World Youth Championships, will be handed the armband.
Matar is seen as UAE football’s leading light and has won 101 caps for his country, scoring 25 goals including five in the White’s victorious Gulf Cup of Nations campaign in 2007.
Ali has explained his decision to pick Matar stemmed from the player’s own desire to represent his country at the Games and his recent upturn in form.
We know he is eager to play in this as he has said so in interviews,” said Ali, whose side secured their place in London with an undefeated qualifying campaign. “He has been doing very well in the last few games, he has been showing he wants to be selected in this team for the Olympics.”
The UAE, preparing to make their first appearance at the Games this summer, open up their campaign against Uruguay at the home of Manchester United, Old Trafford, on July 26th.
Then comes a headline-grabbing showdown with hosts Team GB, who could include former England captain David Beckham in their ranks, at Wembley on July 29th before facing Senegal in their final game on August 1.
Al Jazira have the most representatives in the squad with six, while Bani Yas have five. Al Ahli four, Al Wahda, Al Wasl and Al Shabab have two apiece. Al Ain, Al, Nasr and Shrajah have one player each.
UAE Olympic football squad – 24-man preliminary squad
1. Ali Khasaif (Al Jazira)
2. Abdullah Mousa (Al Jazira)
3. Ismail Matar (Al Wahda)
4. Ismail Al Hammadi (Al Ahli)
5. Ahmad Mahmoud (Al Shabab)
6. Saoud Saeed (Al Wasl)
7. Rashid Essa (Al Wasl)
8. Khalid Essa (Al Jazira)
9. Khamis Esmail (Al Jazira)
10. Ali Mabkhout (Al Jazira)
11. Ali Al Amri (Al Jazira)
12. Habib Al Fardan (Al Nasr)
13. Saad Soroor (Al Ahli)
14. Abdulaziz Haikal (Al Ahli)
15. Ahmad Khalil (Al Ahli)
16. Mohammad Ahmad (Al Shabab)
17. Abdulaziz Sangoor (Sharjah)
18. Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain)
19. Amer Abdulrahman (Bani Yas)
20. Mohammad Fawzi (Bani Yas)
21. Haboush Saleh (Bani Yas)
22. Ahmad Ali (Bani Yas)
23. Mohammad Jaber (Bani Yas)
24. Hamdan Al Kamali (Lyon, on-loan from Al Wahda)
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