Al Jazira’s Farfan determined to bounce back from injury
Injuries compound Al Jazira’s woeful form this season
Jefferson Farfan, the Al Jazira winger, insists his “strong mentality” can aid his threemonth period on the sidelines with a badly sprained ankle.
Farfan suffered the injury after falling awkwardly when attempting to challenge Al Ahli defender Abdel Aziz Hussain during Al Jazira’s 4-1 away defeat to the Red Knights in the Arabian Gulf League on Monday.
Ahmad Saeed Al Marzouki, Al Jazira’s first-team supervisor, confirmed yesterday that the Peruvian would be sidelined for three months.
Meanwhile Farfan, who joined the Pride of Abu Dhabi on a three-year deal from German Bundesliga side Schalke in the summer, posted a picture on his Instagram account of himself on crutches.
He added the message: “These are risky moments, but I am eager to move on fast from this problem injury. I am a man of very strong mentality and I’m very confident in myself and my ability.”
The injury to Farfan, who has scored two goals in 11 appearances this season, adds to under-pressure coach Abel Braga’s escalating misery.
Last month, last season’s AGL top-scorer, Mirko Vucinic, was ruled out for the season after sustaining cruciate ligament damage in a 1-1 home draw with Fujairah in the Arabian Gulf Cup. Their injury woes have been compounded by their woeful form.
Last season’s AGL runnersup are languishing in 11th place in the table, after winning only five of their league matches this season and losing five.
They are also winless in the Arabian Gulf Cup, their bottom place in Group B ending their interest in the competition.
Braga, who returned to his former side in the summer to replace the sacked Eric Gerets and who led Al Jazira to their last AGL title in 2011, will hope Saturday’s home AGL game can reverse his men’s floundering fortunes.
Al Jazira entertain bottom side Al Shaab, who recently appointed Italian legend Walter Zenga as their new coach and who have only two points from nine AGL matches.
The next round of the league begins today with two matches, with third-placed Al Nasr hoping to maintain their unexpected title challenge away to fifthplaced Bani Yas.