Make-or-break for Jovanovic, Sierra
dubai — This weekend could be a make-or-break one for a Serbian and a Chilean as the Arabian Gulf League kicks into gear for the fifth week of action in different venues across Dubai, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Ivan Jovanovic’s Al Nasr go up against Dibba at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium on Thursday and the snow-white haired Serb would be under intense pressure to turn around their floundering fortunes. The Blues are yet to taste a win in the League and find themselves at the bottom of the table after four fixtures.
So, too would be the case for Jose Luis Sierra, who has one win to show as Shabab Al Ahli are uncomfortably placed ninth on the table. Shabab Al Ahli host promoted side Ittihad Kalba at their new home in Al Awir and the 49-year-old will be desperate to make amends.
Al Nasr’s poor run saw the club’s board being dissolved last week with new members being appointed to breathe a fresh lease of life to the Bur Dubai club. Jovanovic just about escaped the axe but another debacle could make patience run thin. If anything, the 56-year-old does have two wins to show in the Arabian Gulf Cup as they sit on top of Group B.
And Jovanovic knows all too well the importance of a positive result on Thursday.“All the games we have are tough,” Jovanovic said at his pre-match briefing.
“We have to fight on the pitch to win and improve our image to the fans who expect a lot from the team in the coming period,” he added.
Jovanovic said he had absolute confidence in his team to halt the poor run of defeats. Al Nasr have so far lost to Ajman, table toppers Sharjah, Al Ain and Ittihad Kalba.
“We lacked in co-ordination in our previous games but I have full confidence in my players. I urge them to give it their all in the next game and put an end to our terrible run,” said Jovanovic.
It has been a strange and surprising start to the season for the very man who rescued them from a similar streak last season. Jovanovic, who guided The Blues to the GCC Champions League in 2014 as well as the President’s Cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup in the 2014-15 season, during his three-year spell from 2013 to 2016, had replaced Italian Cesare Prandelli in January.
Jovanovic arrested that slide and helped them finish fourth in the League last season.
Meanwhile, Sierra would be eager to get a few wins after defeats to Al Jazira, Sharjah and Al Ain. But it won’t be a breeze as Shabab Al Ahli run into a Kalba side, who are proudly perched fifth on the table on the back of wins against Emirates, Al Dhafra and Al Nasr, following the opening day loss to Al Wahda.