The Chinese men's football team and the Chinese U23 men's football delegation, a group of more than 100 people, departed Haikou on a chartered flight of Hainan Airlines departing from Haikou at 2:20 p.m. on March 17 and flying to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to prepare to participate in the final two rounds of the Asian Top 12 of the Qatar World Preliminary Championship and the "Dubai Cup" International Football Invitational Tournament respectively. After more than seven hours of flight, the flight carrying two national teams is expected to arrive in Dubai at 5:40 p.m. local time on the 17th, and then the two teams will rush straight from Dubai International Airport to the station of Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah.
The national football team learned that compared with the western expedition in November last year, the UAE's epidemic prevention policy has been adjusted, and personnel only need to show vaccination records before entering the UAE, do not need to undergo nucleic acid testing, and even do not have to wear masks. However, in order to ensure the health and safety of the members of the two national team members, the Chinese Football Association still requires all employees to undergo closed-loop epidemic prevention management during their overseas periods.
It is precisely because the national football team has traveled to the UAE many times in the past year or so, so the whole team is familiar with the local climatic conditions, training, competitions, all aspects of life processes or environments.
It is reported that from Dubai to the national football team stationed in Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah only need about 1 hour by car, so even if China and Argentina have a 4-hour time difference, the visit will not bring too much trouble to the team. When the internationals arrive at the station hotel, they can have dinner directly, and then rest and adjust, so as to prepare for the next training and competition.
In order to ensure the health and safety of the personnel of the two national teams, the Chinese Football Association requires all employees to accept closed-loop epidemic prevention management. Although the hotel that receives the team also receives some other ordinary guests, the hotel has previously reserved the living areas of the two teams according to the requirements of the Chinese Football Association. Two national teams enter and exit the hotel via separate aisles.
As in the previous periods when the national football team entered the station, Four Points by Sheraton once again reduced the number of hotel service staff in order to meet the needs of the Chinese team delegation for epidemic prevention. In order to reduce team members' contact with external personnel, some room services will be done by team personnel themselves. On the floors involving the living areas of the two national teams, the hotel service staff will be in the closed loop of epidemic prevention together with the team members.
According to the plan, the Chinese team will conduct its first training after arriving in Sharjah on the afternoon of March 18, local time. Jiang Guangtai, a naturalized player who has been in Dubai before, will also meet the team for the first time and participate in the team's joint training. Li Lei, who plays for the Swiss Grasshopper Club, will go to the United Arab Emirates on the 21st local time after representing the club team in the Swiss Super League match with Basel on the 20th.
Text/Beiqing Sports Xiao Zhao