Sport | Football
Al Ahli set to maintain UFL leadership
Al Ahli will have a comparatively easy task to maintain their sole leadership of the UAE Football League for Professional Clubs (UFL) as they host Al Khaleej, the bottom of the standing on Tuesday in the sixth week of the competition.
- By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:02 November 9, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Al Ahli will have a comparatively easy task to maintain their sole leadership of the UAE Football League for Professional Clubs (UFL) as they host Al Khaleej, the bottom of the standing on Tuesday in the sixth week of the competition.
The clubs have enjoyed a short rest before resuming the competition on Tuesday to enable the UAE national team to prepare for their match against Iran on Wednesday, November 19, in the qualifiers for the World Cup.
Al Ahli deserve to lead the UFL as they have overcame difficult obstacles and opponents.
They have missed the services of some of their best players like Cesar, Faisal Khalil (because of suspension) and his brother Ahmad (who is with the UAE youth team in Saudi Arabia) to beat Al Wasl and snatch the leadership from Al Ain who had to settle for a 2-2 hard-fought tie with Al Nasr.
Both Al Jazira and Al Wahda emerged winners and are advancing steadily forward towards the top spot.
Al Ahli have collected 12 points, one more than Al Ain while Al Jazira and Al Wahda have 10 points each.
On Tuesday, Al Ain will host Ajman, the team promoted this year to the top league, Al Jazira will travel to Sharjah to meet the city team, Al Wahda will go to Madinat Zayed to play against Al Dhafrah, defending champions Al Shabab will host Al Nasr in a Dubai Derby and Al Shaab will play at home to Al Wasl.
The UFL matches have started to attract fans but the illegal methods of some of the defenders to stop outstanding players might lead to injury.
With the UAE national team faced with many regional and international obligations it has become a must for the referees to protect the stars, both foreign and local, and to punish rough play.
Top scorer
Without scoring in the fifth week, Brazilian Anderson, Sharjah's striker is still the top scorer of the competition with six goals, followed by his countryman Baiano from Al Jazira, the UAE's Mohammad Omar, from Al Nasr and Ghanaian Attram from Al Shaab with four goals each. Iranians Madanchi from Al Nasr and Kazimiyan from Ajman and Brazilian striker Bare have three goals each.
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