Injury-hit Al Jazira turn to reserve league players
abu dhabi — The fight for the top spot gets intense as the sixth round of the Arabian Gulf League starts from Thursday. Four teams — Al Ain, Al Wahda, Al Wasl and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai — are separated by just one point. In sharp contrast, Al Jazira are struggling to field a quality side.
Kicking off the round, defending champion Al Jazira travel to Hatta. Injuries to star strikers Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil, and new recruit Lassan Diarra meant the ‘Pride of Abu Dhabi’ sit eighth in the points table with just one win from the five matches so far.
Coach Henk ten Cate said during the Press conference that Diarra has rejoined the team but will need more time to be match fit.
Ten Cate is banking on youngsters like Saif Khalfan, Salim Rashid, Ahmed Al Attas, Mohamed Jamal and Khalfan Mubarak.
“I have problems with the selection of the final team but I have full confidence in the ability of the youngsters to return from Hatta with full points.”
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Ten Cate has turned to reserve league players Eisa Al Otaibah and Zaid Al Ameri.
“I will always give them the opportunity as they represent the future of the club and the UAE,” he said.
The coach said the game against Hatta is a challenge but presents an opportunity to get back to winning ways.
Hatta are 11th in the table and will be a tricky opponent at home.
In the second match of the day, Al Wasl play Dibba at Zabeel Stadium. Brazilians Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo and Ronaldo Mendes form a menacing trio and a win will temporarily push them to the top.
On Friday, Al Dhafra host Al Nasr with just a point separating both the teams. Al Dhafra are a difficult team at home and will offer a stern test.
It will be, however, the late match of the day – Shabab Al Ahli against Al Wahda, which will light up the sixth round.
Al Wahda will hit the road after a thrashing of Hatta whereas Shabab Al Ahli had drew against Sharjah. Abu Dhabi club at second and Dubai side at fourth in the points table make it an enticing clash for supremacy.
The final day of the sixth round has got the Ajman-Emirates encounter at Rashid bin Saeed Stadium.
And the final match of the round will set tone for the next one as Al Ain meet bottom dwellers Sharjah. A win will see the ‘Boss’ finish on top of the table.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com