UAE FA chief keeps the faith in Mahdi Ali despite fans uproar

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  • Hopes alive: Mahdi Ali.

    A knee-jerk decision to sack UAE coach Mahdi Ali in the aftermath of last week’s 2018 World Cup qualifying-loss to Saudi Arabia has been “completely ruled out”, according to indignant UAE Football Assocation president Yousif Al Serkal.

    The Whites currently sit five points off the Group A-pace in second following a sloppy 2-1 defeat in Jeddah, conceding late goals at the end of both halves to deadly striker Mohammad Al Sahlawi. Only top spot guarantees progression to the AFC’s third round.

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    The manner of defeat to the leaders after a preceding goalless draw in Palestine has led to supporter disquiet. But for Al Serkal, there is no question about the future of the man who led his nation to a fine third during January’s Asian Cup.

    “The issue of rushing to dismiss the technical staff is completely ruled out,” he told the UAE FA website yesterday. 

    “We have not lost hope, and what is needed now is to restore confidence in them. It is also a certainty that Mahdi will not resign.”

    Ali has excelled since he was promoted from the Under-23s in the immediate aftermath of their impressive displays at the London 2012 Olympics. The 2013 Gulf Cup win followed, prior to this year’s bravura performance Down Under.

    “It is natural for the Emirates audience to grieve,” Al Serkal continued. “This is their right because they are accustomed to great things from this generation and a high fighting spirit.

    “We find ourselves in a position which is lower than our expected level. But that does not mean that we surrender now or promote the idea the team has lost hope. Everyone must rally around the team and technical staff.”

    The UAE look set for an uphill battle to finish as one of the four best runners-up across the eight groups. They currently sit bottom of the list, in a ranking which discounts all results against fifth-placed teams because of Indonesia’s ban from Group F. 

    Ali’s men have seven points at the half-way stage in the second round. They next face a competitive double header at home to Timor-Leste on November 12 and in Malaysia on November 17.

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