Striker Khribin to stay at Al Dhafra
dubai — Arabian Gulf League club Al Dhafra have moved swiftly to keep their prized asset Omar Khribin by tying the Syrian international to a five-year contract.
The striker, who joined The Western Knights during the winter transfer window, is set to stay with the club in the Western Region, 2021. It is learnt that several clubs from within the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were keeping an eye on the 22-year-old, but Al Dhafra made sure he isn’t go anywhere by inking the deal.
The club tweeted that Khribin is officially an Al Dhafra player for five years. Since joining the club in January, Khribin scored nine goals in 12 matches in the Arabian Gulf League. His obvious talent didn’t go unnoticed with the player beating Al Ain duo Omar Abdulrahman and Fellipe Bastos to win the Fans’ Player of the Year award at the fourth edition of the Arabian Gulf League Awards.
With Khribin’s help, Al Dhafra finished eighth in the Arabian Gulf League, in the season gone by.
Meanwhile, newly-promoted club Ittihad Kalba have signed Burkina Faso striker Yahia Kebe from Qatar Stars League club Al Kharitiyath. Kalba, nicknamed ‘The Tigers,’ earned promotion after finishing second behind Hatta in the UAE First Division.
Elsewhere, Sharjah defender Bader Abdulrahman has joined newly-promoted side Hatta, while striker Mohammad Malalla has moved from Emirates to Hatta.
Calderon, Al Wasl part ways
Al Wasl have officially parted ways with their coach Gabriel Calderon. The Argentine’s days were numbered after a couple of outbursts regarding the team as well as an average showing in the Arabian Gulf League this term. He was given a two-day ‘vacation’ by the club ahead of the President’s Cup quarterfinal against Al Ain, which The Cheetahs went on to lose 4-2.
And Al Wasl and Calderon decided to end the partnership amicably, a year before his contract was set to run out.
“After a meeting held between Al Wasl FC and the coaching team of Mr. Gabriel Humberto Calderon, the partied decided to terminate their engagement preterm in amicable terms,” the club said in a statement.
“Al Wasl FC thanks Mr. Calderon and his coaching team for their remarkable work with Al Wasl FC and wishes them the best in their future career,” the club added.
And Calderon said in a statement: “I thank the Al Wasl Board for their confidence, the players for their effort during the last two seasons, and most importantly, the fans for their support. I tried my best with Al Wasl. Even though I didn’t win trophies here, I still had a very good time with Al Wasl and its fans. I am very glad I had such an experience with such a great club.”
Calderon, the former Bani Yas coach, guided Al Wasl to consecutive sixth-place finishes in the Arabian Gulf League, over the two seasons he spent with the club. james@khaleejtimes.com