Fujairah has another shot at redemption
dubai — After the heartbreak and an unwanted distraction over the past few days, Fujairah will look to re-calibrate their focus on what stares at them — a likely ticket to the UAE top flight.
Fujairah, under caretaker manager Abdullah Misfir, will have to negotiate a two-legged play-off in the space of five days, if they are to make the cut for the Arabian Gulf League for next season.
Fujairah, who finished third the First Division, behind champions Bani Yas and Ittihad Kalba, take on Hatta, the bottom-placed team in the Arabian Gulf League over two legs — home and away. The Wolves begin by hosting Hatta at their fortress — the Fujairah Stadium — nestled in the beautiful hills of the Emirate, on Wednesday night.
A positive result there will take them a step further to realising their
The next two matches will be two of the biggest the team has faced so far. There is a high level of enthusiasm and desire from both teams to go on and clinch the result their favour Abdullah Misfir
dream of returning to the League.
Fujairah were the form team in the First Division, going unbeaten the entire season with 11 wins and 11 draws. Fujairah could have earned automatic promotion if not for the draw against Khor Fakkan on the final day of matches.
That 1-1 stalemate saw their star coach Diego Maradona and the club part ways by mutual consent only for them to perform a U-turn a few days later. But then, Maradona’s lawyer suspended the contract negotiations following which the club also ended talks.
Since then, Fujairah have gone on and appointed former UAE and Jordan coach Misfir to guide them through the play-offs, and the squad can now finally focus on the task on hand.
“The next two matches will be two of the biggest the team has faced so far. There is a high level of enthusiasm and desire from both teams to go on and clinch the result their favour,” Misfir said, previewing the play-off.
“I thank Fujairah FC for their confidence and faith in me and I hope to repay that by helping the side qualify for the Arabian Gulf League,” added the 56-year-old.
Misfir admitted that it was too short a time as he was only appointed just a few days ago but the Emirati said that he will try to work as much as he can to help them through this stage.
“It was heart-breaking for Fujairah to miss out on the chance to automatically qualify for the Arabian Gulf League. But we still have an opportunity through the play-off,” he said.
The return leg is at the Hatta Stadium on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the other twinlegged play-off pits Emirates against Al Hamriyah, the fourthplaced team in the First Division. Emirates are at home on Wednesday night with the away leg on Sunday night.
The winners from both the fixtures will join Bani Yas and Ittihad Kalba in the Arabian Gulf League next season.