Dubai: Twenty-five members of the UAE National Team Supporters’ Association will depart from Abu Dhabi International Airport tomorrow for Jeddah ahead of the UAE’s participation in the Gulf Cup 27, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from 23 September to 6 October.
The UAE has been drawn in Group B alongside Qatar, Bahrain and Yemen and will begin its campaign against Yemen on 24 September.
Fahad Al Mansouri, Chairman of the UAE National Team Supporters’ Association, said all arrangements for the supporters’ delegation had been finalised.
He said coordination with the UAE Football Association had begun well in advance and that a comprehensive plan had been prepared to facilitate the attendance of Emirati supporters, including ticket distribution and other organisational arrangements.
Strong support
Al Mansouri said the Supporters’ Association had received significant backing from the Football Association to help fulfil its role in supporting the national team during the tournament.
He added that the association had provided all necessary facilities to encourage large numbers of Emirati fans to travel to Jeddah and support the team.
According to Al Mansouri, the Football Association has allocated 5,000 flags and 5,000 scarves for UAE supporters, with the possibility of increasing the number if required to help create an enthusiastic atmosphere in the stands.
He said a dedicated team from the Football Association will be present in Jeddah to assist fans with ticket distribution, organisational matters and other requirements throughout the tournament.
Al Mansouri noted that the national team’s supporters’ social media platforms have published details of fan arrangements for the UAE’s matches against Yemen, Bahrain and Qatar, as well as information on accommodation, tourism and Umrah.
“We were keen to provide the necessary information for supporters planning to attend the national team’s matches, as well as those wishing to perform Umrah, starting from arrival in Jeddah through to arrangements for match tickets, accommodation and travel to Makkah,” he said.
Optimism over Zlatko
Al Mansouri expressed optimism about the appointment of Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic, citing his previous achievements with Al Ain and the Croatia national team.
“We are optimistic about Zlatko and his coaching staff given the major successes they have achieved in the past. Zlatko is a big name in coaching, and we expect the team to perform differently under his leadership,” he said.
He also highlighted the presence of former UAE star Ismail Matar within the national team’s technical staff, saying his involvement would provide valuable support to the players.
Al Mansouri expressed confidence that Al Abyad can progress deep into the tournament.
Fans ready to support
Abdulmajid Rustam, Chairman of the Shabab Al Ahli Supporters’ Council, said supporters were fully prepared to back the national team during its Gulf Cup campaign.
He stressed the importance of standing behind Al Abyad and supporting the team throughout the competition.
