Sport | Football
Etisalat Emirates Cup set for kick off
The 12 clubs in the UAE's first ever professional league will use the newly-introduced Etisalat Emirates Cup starting today to fine tune their campaigns.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:27 October 10, 2008
- Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
- Al Jazira in action. They will take on Al Khaleej in the Etisalat Emirates Cup.
Abu Dhabi: The 12 clubs in the UAE's first ever professional league will use the newly-introduced Etisalat Emirates Cup starting today to fine tune their campaigns.
After three rounds of action in the UFL, the professional league takes a 20-day break during which period the Emirates Cup will see two rounds of action.
With all the top players currently on duty with the national team the club coaches get a chance to try out their non-regulars in this competition.
The twelve pro-league clubs have been divided into three groups and the three group winners along with the best runner-up in the three groups will advance to the semifinals.
Group A consists of league champions Al Shabab, Al Wahda, Al Dhafra and Sharjah while Group B consists of Al Jazira, Al Wasl, Al Shaab and Al Khaleej. The third four-team Group C comprises Al Ain, Al Ahli, Al Nasr and Ajman.
Today's feature matches include Al Shabab vs Al Wahda as well as the Al Ahli vs Al Nasr.
Al Jazira, Al Wahda and Al Ain have all started off and are currently unbeaten after three rounds and these three Abu Dhabi clubs will look to keep the momentum going.
Al Jazira, who opened with a 6-1 win over Al Khaleej, once again meet the same side but this time in an away encounter.
Brazilian coach Abel Braga has cautioned stating that Al Khaleej will be looking to avenge that huge loss.
"Though they are at the bottom after three matches, Al Khaleej will be playing at home and I have asked my players to keep the pressure on from the beginning," he said.
"All clubs will be using the 20-day rest and the two rounds of matches in the Cup competition to prepare for the coming UFL rounds. I am happy that my team is getting better and combining better. The first half display against Al Wasl was superb."
Fixtures
- Group A: Al Shabab vs Al Wahda; Al Dhafra vs Sharjah.
- Group B: Al Shaab vs Al Wasl; Al Khaleej vs Al Jazira.
- Group C: Al Ain vs Ajman; Al Ahli vs Al Nasr.
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