Sharjah ruler hails UAE football team as Gulf Cup reward rises to Dh147m

The Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has awarded Dh10 million to the members of the UAE national football team for winning the Gulf Cup against Iraq on Friday.

Sheikh Al Qasimi received the football team, including the administrative and technical staff, today at his Al Badea Al A'mer Palace and thanked them for their victory.

According to state news agency, Wam, Sheikh Al Qasimi warned the players to not be complacent after their win and urged them to work harder in the upcoming football competitions, which includes the 2015 Asia Cup qualifying campaign.

The team flies to Guangzhou, China, on January 28 to begin training, with their first match against Vietnam in Hanoi on February 6. The last time the two countries met, in the group stages of the 2007 competition, the UAE lost 2-0.

In the past three days, Dh137 million has been donated to the national team in appreciation of their achievement.

The squad won all its matches in the tournament in Bahrain, which culminated in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Iraq in the final.

The President, Sheikh Khalifa, was the first to reward the players, giving Dh50m to the team when he met them on Saturday.

His donation was followed by a grant of Dh12m from Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Saeed, the sons of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the Minister of Finance and Dubai's Deputy Ruler.

Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, donated Dh25m.

On Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed himself donated a further Dh50m.

The money will be shared among the players, coaches and technical staff.

newsdesk@thenational.ae