DUBAI // Brett Holman says he would love to continue his career at Al Nasr, but the former Australia international says he has yet to open dialogue with the club about extending his stay with his current deal to expire at the end of this season.
Holman, 31, arrived at Nasr in the summer of 2013 on a two-year deal from Aston Villa and the attacking midfielder has proved one of the best imports to play in the Arabian Gulf League.
Last season, he appeared in all 26 of Nasr’s league matches, scoring three goals. This season, he scored five goals in 24 league matches.
Holman’s goals and creativity were instrumental in helping Nasr end their 25-year wait for a trophy by winning the GCC Clubs Championships last season and the Arabian Gulf Cup this season.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic has agreed a new two-year extension to his contract, but his captain is still waiting to learn whether he has a future at the Dubai outfit.
“I would love to continue with Al Nasr, but it is not my decision,” said Holman, who called time on his international career last year after 63 caps for Australia.
“You will have to ask the management about this. They have to decide whether they want me or not. Until now, they have not contacted about a renewal.”
Two players who are on the lookout for new employers this summer as Brazilian duo Luiz Henrique and Alexandro of Emirates.
The Ras Al Khaimah club have decided against renewing their deals and said they are in the market for “fresh blood to strengthen the team”.
Dibba Al Fujairah, who will play in the Arabian Gulf League next season after winning Division One, have released all three of their foreign professionals.
While Brazilians Rodrigo Careca, Renan da Silva and Felipe Barreto are on their way out, the club confirmed they are in talks with Tunisian coach Fathi Al Jabal to lead the team in the return to the top flight next season. Tariq Elsayed was in charge of the team last year, but does not have the required coaching badges to coach in the Arabian Gulf League as per Asian Football Confederation regulations.
Al Jabal was in charge of Ajman in the first half of the season before making way for Portuguese Manuel Cajuda, but the two could not save the team from relegation.
Al Shaab, the other promoted club, are also looking for a new coach after parting ways with Eid Baroot. The club have opted not to continue with the Emirati coach and have also released their Guinean midfielder Simon Feindouno.
Al Wasl, meanwhile, have signed midfielder Ahmed Al Shamsi on a four-year deal from Al Ain. The 27-year-old Emirati had spent this season on loan at the Zabeel Stadium and made eight league appearances for the club.
He is the second Al Ain player who spent the season on loan at Wasl to sign permanently with the Dubai club: Salem Abdullah joined on a three year deal.
In exchange for those two players, and possibly Hazza Salem as well, Wasl striker Rashid Issa is expected to make a move in the opposite direction to the UAE champions on a three-year deal after impressing with the AGL champions during a loan spell.
Another Wasl player who could be on his way out is midfielder Mohammed Jamal. The 25-year-old Emirati midfielder is expected to sign for Al Ahli.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
- 1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
- 2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
- 3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
- 4th ODI, Sunday, April 16
Squads:
- UAE: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
- Zimbabwe: Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
