The UAE must reach the BSWW Overall World Ranking top 10 this year to maintain progress, according to coach Guga.
UAE coach Gustavo ‘Guga’ Zloccowick has challenged his side to build on their friendly wins against Qatar and break into the world’s top 10 before next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Currently ranked 12th in the BSWW Overall World Ranking presented by Power Horse, Guga’s side claimed back-to-back victories against their neighbours on home sand in recent days – picking up 8-1 and 5-3 wins on Sunday and Monday respectively.
Approaching his two-year anniversary in charge of the UAE, Guga will soon look to negotiate Asian qualification for the 2017 World Cup in the Bahamas and believes his youthful team have what it takes to leapfrog Argentina and Paraguay into the top 10.
“Right now we have to make sure the UAE senior national side finishes among the top 10 regularly,” he told the Khaleej Times this week at the UAEFA Academy.
“[Our ranking] has to be made world 8-10 during the 2016-17 season. The World Cup in Bahamas next year is crucial followed by the Asian championship in Chinese Taipei.
“What we have to emphasise is not to go into full grassroot and nursery development from the under 12 category now. Instead, let us work to shape up a solid under-20 national side parallel to the further development of a seasoned senior national men’s team.
“Today the UAE senior men’s side has five new faces since the last event in Dubai. The average age is now 24.5 years whereas we had a figure of 32.5 in the past seasons.
“The younger hands in the side have given us room for a fresh approach to our objectives. The fact that we beat a full Qatar side in the friendlies here this week gives us the advantage of building further from this stage.”
