Safety first for Al Dhafrah

Abu Dhabi: Last season's Al Dhafrah success story was like a fairy tale.

A bad start to the season suggested they would, as usual, spend the season fighting to avoid the drop to the second division.

Then they brought in a new coach, Egyptian Ayman Al Ramadi who has vast experience of UAE football, and made some signings with both local and foreign players coming in.

The effect was Al Dhafrah started winning matches and embarrassing some of the bigger clubs.

Fans celebrated as their club rose above former champions in the league and they secured their place in the top division before famous clubs like Al Wahda, who were taking part in the Asian Champions League while below Al Dhafrah in the league.

But the club face an even bigger challenge this season to remain a member of the Pro-League despite seemingly being stronger and experienced than the two promoted teams, Ajman and Al Khaleej.

The man behind last season's successful run, coach Al Ramadi, has now left the club.

His replacement Mohammad Kwid, of Syria, said he knew a great deal about football in the UAE.

Kwid led Al Karamah of Syria to three league titles and finished runners-up in the Asian Champions League.

His side played against UAE clubs in the Champions League and have held training camps in the country.

Earlier this year, Kwid led his team in a training camp at Al Dhafrah club and played against them.

"I am happy to work with Al Dhafrah. I have great respect for them since I came with Al Karamah for the training camp.

"I know most of the players and almost all of the officials and I am sure that we can achieve the club's goals this season.

Strong league

"I have enough information about the other teams in the Pro-League and I have been following up the UAE league on TV in the past few seasons and I believe it is one of the best in Asia and the Arab World."

Ahmad Jazlan Al Mazrouei, supervisor of football and member of the board of directors, said changing the coach had caused some disruption.

He said: "The club is ready for the season and we know that it will be a tough one.

"We have to change our technical staff because of the resignation of Ayman Al Ramadi.

"But that might be for the good of the team and fortunately it came before the start of the season and with enough days to give the new coach all the information he needs about his players and the other teams in the competition."

Al Mazrouei said they were not expecting to challenge for the title.

He said: "Our goal is to stay in the Pro-League this season.

"We are still not in the class to dream of competing for the title but we have good experienced players and a good technical staff. We believe that with hard work and dedication we can stay in the top league."

New coach Mohammad Kwid insists he knows the game in the UAE having faced UAE teams before and followed it on TV.

FACTFILE