Derby match: Al Wahda v Al Jazira

I'm supporting Al Wahda surrounded by a rowdy pack of Al Jazira fans.

It's Monday night and the Al Nahyan stadium (aka the stadium behind the mall), usually only half-filled, is tonight brimming with supporters as these two cross-town rivals, at opposite ends of the standings late in the season, play for bragging rights.

For a couple of months I've had this date circled on my calendar. You may remember, when last I told you about Al Wahda, I was undecided on whether to throw my support behind them or Al Jazira, with their nice gym facilities.

I've suffered greatly for this to'ing and fro'ing. I've been called everything from a glory hound to a traitor. But this was the first time I had to choose between two teams (in my hometown of Toronto, there's just one team for each major sport) and I couldn't pick on a whim.
Yes, there was a period of two or three weeks where I claimed I was supporting Jazira. I had even created a couple of songs for them. But it felt hollow and I realized I was backing them not so much because I was sold on them but to try and create a little bit of office rivalry with my friend, a hard core Al Wahda supporter.

Somewhere over those weeks I realized, as I'd suspected, that my heart was with Al Wahda. I'd seen them play four times to Jazira's one and realizing that my new apartment is in the area known as Al Wahda sealed the deal.

So why am I sitting here in the den of the enemy? A little bit of poor time management is to blame. Who would've known the police would block the entrance to the Al Wahda part of the stadium? It's not the way I imagined I'd be declaring my allegiance but the best I could do was refuse to clap when Jazira, still in with a shot at the league title, had the pressure on Al Wahda, who are near the drop zone.

What a brilliant match it was. Both teams passed the ball around quickly and defence seemed to be an afterthought at times. Jazira lead early, then Al Wahda equalized at the end of the half. A wide-open second half saw Jazira strike the cross bar and have a point blank rebound turned away. The Arabs draped with black scarfs around me groaned.

I occassionally groaned too, every time a player dove or refused to get up after suffering a tackle. I counted six yellow cards in the second half alone and eight golf cart visits.

Al Wahda touched wood from a set-piece as well. Both team's song leaders did their renditions of we will rock you. I sent encouraging text messages to my friend, who had arrived earlier and was sitting in the right section. The brother of a friend who was visiting from the states sat next to me, enjoying the match but really hoping for a goal.

He got his wish in the 91st minute. A beautifully weighted Al Wahda cross found a head. The header across the goal mouth was headed home and the stadium erupted with joy. Except for the men and boys around me, who began filing out the door.

The loss is a set back in Jazira's hopes for a league title this year while it should help keep Al Wahda up for next season, when the Etisalat First Division becomes officially a professional league.

But of course, like any derby match, it was about much more than the standings. For me, it was about declaring my allegiance to the team behind the shopping mall. You can't argue with being able to eat at Fuddrucker's after a match.

United Arab Emirates Football League - Al Wahda

With Liverpool knocked out of the FA Cup Saturday and their Champions League tie not until Tuesday, I wished to fill my Sunday afternoon with some local football. I imagined that a match between mid-table Al Wahda FC (located not far from my apartment, they are practically my home team), and basement-dwelling Emirates, in a United Arab Emirates League match would lift my spirits.

So I caught a cab to the stadium behind Al Wahda Mall and met up with a friend. Having seen one match previously, he was already a loyal fan.

It was my first taste of UAE football and I was eager — perhaps over eager — to fall in love with Al Wahda as he had. Afterall, it would be the first time I had a club to support whose matches I could watch live. While I’ve seen Toronto FC play, it was business-related viewing and the closest I’ve gotten to seeing Liverpool live was from the First National pub.

So I bought a scarf and ambled into the free match, expecting an easy win and the beginning of a fruitful relationship.

Things started promisingly for Al Wahda — who last lifted the league trophy in 2005 — when they opened the scoring in the 12th minute. The bleachers were far from full but the crowd around me — all men, most wearing disdasha’s — was in good spirits. In the bleachers opposite me, a large group dressed (and presumably paid for their efforts) sang constantly. Near the end of the half, when they broke out the Arabic version of “We Will Rock You,” including the verses, I had fallen in love.

It took 45 minutes for the honeymoon to end.

After a half-hour half-time break, Al Wahda came out looking sleepy and within minutes had conceded the equalizer. Later, the impossible happened when a through-ball into the area was knocked into the back of Al Wahda’s net. My friend and I shook our heads ruefully as the crowd around us actually applauded the goal, each clap dripping with sarcasm. They weren’t happy at all and neither was I.

“This is disgusting,” I said.
“That sums it up perfectly,” my friend replied.

Minutes later, Emirates added a third on a 50-yard free kick that bounded past everyone into the back of the net. I looked to my friend and asked, “Are there any other teams in Abu Dhabi?” Turns out Al-Jazira Sports Club play just as close to where I live and are currently in third place in the league.

“I think I might go watch them play,” I said. “Before I get stuck supporting these guys for the rest of my time here.”
“You’re already hooked mate,” he said.

The home fans kept applauding Emirates, who were actually showboating with the ball now. When the final whistle mercifully blew, they crowded the guard rail and clapped and cheered Al Wahda's effort wildly as the dejected players strolled into the change rooms. Policemen wearing track suits kept a watchful eye.
Al Wahda’s next home game isn’t until April and Al Jazira have three home games in the interim. There is time for me to save myself yet.

But like Nick Hornby with Arsenal, I fear I am already a goner. Al Wahda may not play very attractive football, but “We Will Rock You” never sounded so good.