South Korea and Morocco will tussle each other in the inaugural match of the Emirates Cup 2001 at 6.30pm at Al Maktoum stadium. The home team UAE and Denmark will clash in the second match at the same venue at 8.30pm.

The Emirates Cup 2001, organised by the UAE Football Association with KAM Sports International, will be an annual tournament with strong teams from South America and Europe likely to take part next year.

Peter Anderson of the KAM said that no prize money will be presented to the winner of Emirates Cup 2001.

"Only the trophy will be given to the winner, this time no prize money like the one we presented in the tournament held last October," said Anderson.

The four teams' coaches, who met the press at the Airport Meridian yesterday, spoke about their team's preparation and how they look forward to the tournament in Dubai.

UAE's coach Henri Michel said that the Emirates Cup provides an excellent opportunity for his team to prepare well for the World Cup qualifier, to be held two months later.

"We are pleased to play in such a strong tournament with teams from Europe, Africa and Asia. It will be a tremendous experience for our young team before the World Cup qualifier."

The UAE coach said he would make some of the injured players fit for the coming matches. "Qazim Ali, Haydar Allo Ali and Fahd Ali are suffering from old injuries, but we will try to make them fit," Michel said.

"I know Denmark well, although they have no professionals from European clubs in this tournament, they are still a good side," said the French coach on UAE's match against Denmark.

Guus Hiddink the South Korean coach, said that he is happy to play in the Emirates Cup 2001. "Morocco, UAE, Denmark are strong teams, to play against them will help us very much in our preparation for the World Cup Finals, which South Korea will host next year." Hiddink claimed that it's a good chance to play in strong tournament in his first spell with the Korean national team.

"During the Emirates Cup matches, I will have a good chance to see all my players by making them play in certain positions, and see if they are doing well or should I have to change their positions."

Portugese Humbairto Coelho, the coach of Morocco and the former Portugal national team coach said that the Emirates Cup was a new experience for his side. "It will be a significant opportunity to have it as a good preparation for the World Cup and African qualifier in the coming months."

Coelho, who took Portugal to the semifinals of the European championship last July, said that he was sure his players would produce a good performance despite the absence of the professionals, who are playing with their European clubs.

"I wish I could have the professionals with me, but that's not possible, this is something out of our hand, all national teams can't include in this period professional players who play in Europe." Coelho said that the Danish coach was also suffering from the same problem.

The fourth coach, Morten Olsen of Denmark expressed his happiness with the UAE sun after an icy weather in Europe. "We came from bad weather in Denmark, snow and storms which is not helping us play football. We are pleased with the sun shine in the UAE. We want to benefit from these excellent conditions to train and show excellent performance," he said

"It's true that we don't have our professionals who play in the European clubs, but the players who are with me now are all professionals," Olsen added.



The schedule:

Today: 6.30pm South Korea v Morocco, 8.30pm UAE v Denmark; Sunday: 6.30pm UAE v South Korea, 8.30pm Morocco v Denmark; Wednesday: 6.30pm South Korea v Denmark, 8.30pm UAE v Morocco.

The teams:
Denmark: Kennth From, Brian Priske, Thomas Poulsen, Nicklas Jensen, Peter Kjaer, Stephen Lusto, Thomas Roll, Jan Michaelsen, Henrik Pedersen, Brian Steen Nielsen, Jan Hoffman, Keneth Moller Pederesn, Palle Sorensen, Jacob Nielsen, Peter Sand, Heine Fernandez, Mads Bro Hansen, Jesper Sorensen, Michael Hemmingson and Anders Winther.

South Korea: Kim Byung Ji, Lee Woon Jae, Lee Min Sung, Kim Yong Dae, Hong Myung Bo, Kim Tae Yong, Kim Yong Sun, Sim Jae Yon, Lee Lim Saeng, Park Jin Sub, Lee Yong Pyo, Park Ji Sung, Kim Sang Sik, Seo Dong Won, Ko Jong Su, Yoo Sang Chul, Song Chung gug, Kim Do Hoon, Jung Kwang Min, Seo Jung Won, Park Sung Bae, Kim Eun Jung, Shin Sang Woo, Kim Hyun Soo, Seol Ki Hyeon and Ahn Jung Hwan.

Morocco: Idriss Benzakri, Hesham Laaraj, Tareq Jarmouni, Rasheed Roki, Rasheed Bin Mahmood, Rasheed Dawoody, Abdellattif Jrendou, NorEddine Ziatt, Aziz Benaskar, Said Chira, Fouzi Brazi, Tareq Sektaiwi, Jamal Sellami, Jawad Zairi, Lahsen Abrami, Yousuf Safri, Osman El Assas, Salah Eddine Bassir, Boushuaib Elmoubarki, Noueddine Qassimi, Abdel Haq Benballa, Mohammed Kharboush, Hesham All Allawi and Rasheed Regadi.

UAE: Moattaz Abdullah, Juma Rashid, Saeed Juma, Fahd Ali, Humaid Fakher, Mahamed Rabie, Jalil Abdul Rahman, Abdullah Salim, Omran Al Jessmi, Mohamed Qassim, Ali Mohamed Issa, Saleh Abdullah, Abdul Rahim Juma, Subait Khater, Haydar Allo Ali, Abdul Salam Juma, Husain Suhail, Mohamed Ibrahim, Qazim Ali, Mohamed Omer, Saeed Al kass and Faisal Khalil.