Dubai: Defending champions Al Ahli and pre-season favourites Al Jazira will be looking to take off on a winning note as they travel to Sharjah and Ajman, respectively, in the opening round of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) on Monday and Tuesday.
The Red Knights, runaway winners with a whopping 16 points separating them from runners-up Al Wahda, will be up against a tricky Sharjah capable of spoiling their seasonal debut.
Back from their three-week training in Europe, coach Cosmin Olaroiu has had to make last-minute alterations in his planning after their traditional season-opening Arabian Super Cup tie against Al Ain was postponed due to Al Ain’s involvement in the AFC Champions League.
Olaroiu has retained the core of his winning squad with the only major notable change being shedding off Portuguese playmaker Hugo Viana to bring in Romanian Mirel Radoi. Last season, Al Ahli had signed in Jociel Ferreira Silva [Ciel] and Walid Abbas from neighbours Al Shabab and that had borne fruit as the Red Knights landed three of the four trophies. Their only blemish was they fell to Al Ain in the President’s Cup final and missed out on the quarter-finals in the AFC Champions League.
This year, the bar has been set higher as they seek to go out and make amends. Radoi has come in and so has Al Nasr’s Habib Fardan further bolstering the midfield. And even though they realise they are a bit older this season, the Red Knights may well achieve a lot more with their enthusiasm and will to win.
After showing early promise, Sharjah ended last season with 40 points in seventh place, eight points adrift from Al Wahda. However, this year with Paulo Bonamigo still at the helm, the squad has made very few changes, concentrating instead on consolidating themselves as a fighting unit.
Among the earliest matches on Monday will be the one featuring a new-look Al Wasl hosting Al Dhafra in Dubai. The latest sighted recruit before closure of the players window was Brasilia’s former Internacional player, Caio Correa. He was expected to line up alongside fellow countrymen Neto Berola, Fabio Virginio de Lima and Ederson as the Cheetahs seek to make a new start under 1994 Fifa World Cup winner Jorginho.
In other matches on the opening day on Monday, Emirates Club — who survived the fall last season — will travel to new entrants Fujairah while Bani Yas will play host to Al Nasr and Al Jazira will make their long trip to Ajman count with a win.
In Tuesday’s fixtures, Al Wahda will entertain new entrants Ittihad Kalba in the early match while Al Ahli sign off with their match against Sharjah later in the night.
