Time for debuts

Australian defender Lucas Neill made his debut for the UAE champions Al Jazira in the International Friendly Football Tournament match against Syria’s Al Ittihad this week. The team was trained by Hugo Broos, new head coach Franky Vercauteren’s assistant. “We want to see the players and analyse their strengths and see how and where they fit into our plan for the season ahead," Broos said. Neill played as centre-back alongside Saleh Basheer. This Sunday, Diego Maradona's team will have his debut as manager of Al Wasl against Ittihad Kalba. Argentine Mariano Donda, Uruguayan Juan Manuel Olivera, and Chilean Edson Puch also will face their debut with Maradona's team. Donda, a former Serie A's player with Bari, likely will be line up as holding midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Puch on the left side and Olivera as forward. On his first press conference, Maradone pointed out that he want young but experienced players that could offer the a good display. All three Sud American players came to UAE with still plenty left in the tank.