ABU DHABI 14 January 2019: An Indian spectator at the AFC Asian Cup being held in the UAE has been honoured for declaring his love of the UAE.
Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the General Authority for Sports and Vice-President of the Supreme Organising Committee of the AFC Asian Cup, UAE 2019, met with an Indian spectator, Razzaq Osan Konath.
During the match between the UAE and Indian national teams, Konath raised a sign, which stated, “My nationality is Indian, but my heart is Emirati.”
While meeting Konath at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council headquarters yesterday, Al Rumaithi commended his sportsmanship, civilised cheering and love for the UAE while affirming that the cheering and love shown by expatriates for the country during UAE 2019 reflects the image of a nation of tolerance, as well as the UAE’s stature in the hearts of all nationalities who coexist on the land of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in love and peace.
Numerous Examples
In statements to the Emirates News Agency, following the meeting, Al Rumaithi stressed that the UAE is a nation of goodness and tolerance that hosts over 200 nationalities while pointing out that this image presented by Konath was not the only such example, but they were numerous examples in various matches of the championship.
He added that the UAE is hosting the largest Asian Cup championship in history, with the participation of 24 national teams and the attendance of thousands of spectators from many Asian countries who are present in the UAE to support their teams in an atmosphere of tolerance and love.
At the end of the meeting, Al Rumaithi presented the Abu Dhabi Sports Council shield to Konath, in appreciation for his love of the UAE and his cheering for his country’s national team during the cup.
