Sport | Football
Al Wasl sign up three new Emirati players
Al Wasl signed up three new Emirati players to strengthen their squad for the professional league matches which will resume in February.
- By Sayed Ali, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:35 January 5, 2009
- Al Wasl in action in the league against Sharjah. Al Wasl have boosted their chances in the professional league with the acquisition of three new players.
- Image Credit: Atiq-ur-Rehman/Gulf News
Dubai: Al Wasl signed up three new Emirati players to strengthen their squad for the professional league matches which will resume in February.
The club signed up two defenders - Ali Messari and Juma Abdullah, both from Al Ain Club - and Saeed Al Kass, the Sharjah striker.
This was announced at a press conference held at the club premises yesterday.
Badr Hareb, Al Wasl manager, said the three new players will strengthen the senior team in the coming professional league matches.
"In the last session of the current season, we were looking for Emirati players in some positions. We were lucky to sign up the three players who are well-known in the UAE soccer.
Ali Messari and Juma Abdullah were central defenders for Al Ain club and they were performing well with their former club. We hope they continue their performances and even improve further," said Hareb.
The Al Wasl football manager thanked the two clubs Al Ain and Sharjah for agreeing to release the players.
Two of the three players who attended the press conference, Messari and Abdullah, expressed happiness in joining Al Wasl as one of the biggest names in UAE and GCC soccer.
They promised to give their best to their new club and to spare no efforts in defending its colours.
Al Wasl are now in the eighth place in the professional league with 11 points from 10 matches. They won the double (President's cup and league title) in the 2006-2007 season.
Last season they finished eighth. They will now be looking to return to their past glory.
Meanwhile, the club terminated the contract of their Ivory Coast striker Zica Jory who failed to show any form after signing for the club in September.
Sources claimed that Jory has been transferred to Egyptian club Ennpi for $350,000.
Brazilian Rogero D'silva who was playing for the club's reserve team could replace Jory in the senior team if the club are unable to sign a new foreign player.
Al Wasl's Brazilian striker Alexander Olivera and Iranian midfielder Eman Mob'ali will continue with the team until the end of the season.
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