Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira unveiled their three latest recruits — Lucas Neill, the captain of Australia who joined from Turkish club Galatasaray, Abdul Rahim Juma, the captain of the UAE who switched over from Al Wahda, and Ali Mohammad Rashid, who joined from Al Shabab in Dubai.
The three players expressed their delight to be part of such a high-profile club like Al Jazira who won the double last season and expressed their determination to help their new team win many more trophies in the new season.
"I am happy to be here," Neill told a press conference after a welcoming word from Phil Anderton, CEO of the club.
"It is a new challenge and I am ready to use my experience as a veteran of two World Cup finals to help my new team win local and continental titles and to make a big name for them in Asia.
"I believe I can adapt quickly to the weather and also to the style of the game here. It is also a learning experience for me, which will help greatly to achieve my goal of guiding Australia in the 2014 World Cup finals. I believe we [Australia] have a good chance of reaching the finals, with due respect to the other strong Asian teams which will compete with us. But my focus at the moment will be on Al Jazira and how to help them win more titles," Neill added.
‘More success'
Juma, who had started his career as a junior player with Al Jazira, before moving across to Al Wahda, said: "I have won many titles with Al Wahda and now I am with another big club. I want to achieve more success with them."
Rashid said: "I am happy to join such a big team and I don't believe that there is a single player in the country who will ever an offer from Al Jazira, simply because at the moment, they are the best team in the UAE.
"I am also happy with the warm welcome that I have received from my teammates and I feel at home [here] and hope to do my best for the club."
