Daei looking forward to UAE season

AFC - Iran striker Ali Daei has said that he is looking forward to playing in the United Arab Emirates league in the upcoming season, after being thoroughly impressed by the ambitions of his new club Al Shabab.

The 1999 Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year recently signed for the Dubai club after playing in the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. Daei said he was very impressed with his new club and is now focussed on helping Al Shabab to reach new heights in the 2002-03 season.

"The management of the German clubs is better but the facilities of the UAE equal that of Germany," said Daei. "Everyone here wants to have professional football and works hard to reach this aim. The foreign coaches insist that all players be present for team practices on time and the Al Shabab practices of last week were nicely organized.

"Thank God that all is well. We train every day. Sometimes we work only once a day and sometimes twice. We began the practice sessions last week.

"Right now I am completely at peace here and I want to be fully fit and prepared for the new UAE season."

Daei added that he is working well with international compatriot Mehrdad Minavand, who recently arrived from Iranian club giants Pirouzi on a two-year contract worth US$1 million.

"Minavand and I work well together. We have had a few preliminary matches with both us playing in them," said the former Asian Player of the Year.

The Iranian's only concern has been adjusting to the weather since his return to the region.

"The hot climate of the UAE is not at all comparable with Europe and this is our main problem. I have no problems with the coaches and the staff. My problem is the heat," he added.