DUBAI // Glenn Hoddle, regarded as one of the most gifted footballers to have played for England, is exploring the possibilities of opening an academy in the UAE which will aim to provide rejected youngsters with a second chance to make the professional grade.
Hoddle, who appeared for his country 53 times before going on to manage the team for their 1998 World Cup campaign, is anxious to put something back into a game that has served him so well. He has already achieved that objective with his first academy which opened in Jerez, Spain, 15 months ago - a venture which has been partly funded by investment from Dubai. The success in reviving the careers of nearly half of the 30 players who have attended courses there has inspired Hoddle and his associates Nigel Spackman, Graham Rix and Dave Beasant, all former players, to branch out and set up more bases worldwide.
"High on the current agenda is opening our second academy in South Africa," said Hoddle, during a visit to Dubai to take part in Saturday's Big Five-O charity golf tournament in aid of underprivileged children. "If that South African plan comes off, we would then look at opening one in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. "I always think that if the facilities are right and the coaching is right we could get players from all round the world to come here. And that how we are thinking at the moment."
Hoddle, who played for Tottenham, Monaco, Swindon and Chelsea during a glittering 20-year career and then went on to manage Swindon, Chelsea, Southampton, Spurs and Wolverhampton, was clearly excited by his new project. "We are changing these people's lives," he said. "Their dreams have been shattered after being rejected by their various clubs and we are putting them back into the game. Who knows where they might go. It's a worthwhile thing that we're doing and I'm thoroughly enjoying it."
The time and effort involved so far means Hoddle, at 52, is unlikely to be looking too hard for another break into management, although he confessed to having a yearning to be involved in the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa. "It would be anyone's dream to be preparing for the World Cup just now," he said before revealing that he almost fulfilled that desire with Nigeria. "I applied for the managerial vacancy there and was very close to getting it," he said. "The World Cup only comes round every four years but it is the creme de la creme for the managers involved."
Consequently, he will follow closely how Nigeria, under the guidance of Lars Lagerback, the former Sweden manager, fare against Argentina, Greece and South Korea. His loyalty, however, remains with England. "I think England are going there with some pretty good players," Hoddle said. "If you hit the road running and get a bit of belief as well as good fortune you can make things happen. "You haven't necessarily got to be the best team in the tournament to win it. Italy proved that last time. I have reservations about certain areas of the England squad - goalkeepers and strikers - but we've got as good a chance as countries like Italy, Germany, France and Holland. The draw has been very kind to us. Normally we get a very tough draw but we can't complain this time."
wjohnson@thenational.ae
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Points tally
1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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RESULTS
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Meshakel, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner Gervais, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Global Heat, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Firnas, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
Winner Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Winner Wasim, Mickael Barzalona, Ismail Mohammed.
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Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
