FA want results to start reflecting performances

DUBAI // Rashid Al Zaabi, the deputy chairman of the Football Association's technical committee, is hoping the national team's misfiring strikers can turn things around against Kuwait tonight.

Mahdi Ali will lead his team out for the first time at home as the UAE meet familiar foes Kuwait for the 37th time since 1972.

The confidence in the home team is high after an impressive performance against Japan on Thursday, but lack of goals is becoming a major concern for the national team bosses.

"We need to use such matches to build the confidence of the team, especially the strikers," Al Zaabi told Arabic daily Al Ittihad. "They have been wasting too many chances and this game is an opportunity for them to score and gain in confidence. The team has been suffering due to this problem. We have been giving convincing performances, but don't have the result to show for it because of the lack of goals.

"We played a great game in Japan and the team was applauded by the home fans for their efforts, but in the coming period, we need to make sure we not only offer good performances, but also get positive results."

arizvi@thenational.ae

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