The UAE FA will unveil Srecko Katanec as the new coach of the national football team in Dubai today. The former Slovenia and Macedonia coach, who fought off opposition from former Saudia Arabia coach Yousef Abdulla to land the job, will replace Dominique Bathenay, whose contract expired after the team's final World Cup qualifying game. Katanec, 45, was in Dubai earlier this month, watching the UAE lose to Germany 7-2 and South Korea 2-0.
Meanwhile, Nawaf Mubarak is looking for a move away from Al Sharjah after a pay dispute with the club. The UAE international has, according to sources, sent a letter to the club asking to know the reasons for deductions made from his salary. The letter, sent through his agent, could be the first step towards his departure from Sharjah. The 27-year-old midfielder still has two years remaining on his five-year contract with the club, but there has been interest from other clubs.
Talks are going on between Sharjah and Mubarak and it could lead to loan move, or even a transfer through mutual consent. In other developments in the transfer market, Ajman have added Ivory Coast's Boris Kabi to their squad. The 23-year-old striker arrives from Moroccan club Olympique Safi. He spent last season on loan in Saudi Arabia with Al Raed, scoring nine goals. Meanwhile, Al Shabab have decided to end their negotiations with Kleber Pereira, who was top-scorer in the 2008 Brazilian Serie A, after the Brazilian striker's club, Santos raised their demands.
Al Nasr's talks with Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio have also broken down over the player's financial demands. arizvi@thenational.ae
