Sport | Football
UAE clubs face tough test to become Asia's best
A baptism by fire awaits UAE clubs competing in this year's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League if Ivan Hasek, the Al Ahli coach, is to be believed.
- By Duane Fonseca, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:38 January 7, 2009
- Al Ahli, Al Jazira, Al Shabab and Sharjah will have to overcome some tough competition to advance in the Asian Champions League.
- Image Credit: Arshad Ali/Gulf News
Dubai: A baptism by fire awaits UAE clubs competing in this year's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League if Ivan Hasek, the Al Ahli coach, is to be believed.
Hasek's smile wore off as the draw for Asia's top club competition was announced at the Emirates Airline headquarters in Garhoud
And while his side have been drawn in Group A alongside Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, Uzbekistan giants Pakhtakor and Iran's Saba Battery, the other two confirmed Emirati entrants in the competition so far, UAE champions Al Jazira and Al Shabab have been drawn in Groups C and D, respectively, with a host of top clubs.
Sharjah (Group B) will have to beat Indian champions Dempo FC in a West Zone play-off in the Emirates on February 25 to become the fourth Emirati side in the competition.
Despite the enormity of the task at hand, Hasek is convinced his men will rise up to the occasion when they start their campaign hosting Pakhtakor in the opener on March 10.
He said: "I think every team that qualifies for this competition must be prepared to face tough opponents. We are four strong sides in our group and every opponent is difficult; Saudi, Iran, Uzbekistan all the teams in our group will be tough to play.
"No game in the Champions League can be considered easy and even if I want I can't change the pool we've been drawn in. This is the reality and we plan to prepare a strong side for this competition and I believe we can qualify for the next stage."
Should Sharjah beat Dempo next month, they will enter a Group B, comprising Qatar's Al Gharafa, Saudi side Al Shabab and Piroozi Athletic of Iran, against whom their tournament starts on March 11.
In Group C, Al Jazira host Qatar's Umm Salal in their first match at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, while two-time winners Al Ittihad (Saudi) and Esteghlal (Iran), who complete the pool play in Jeddah's Prince Abdullah Stadium.
Ittihad's Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon said: "Every group is difficult, but this is normal in a competition like this. I think it is possible to qualify, we always play to win, but so do the others. Big clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona also feel the pressure, but I prefer a pressure situation. I know it might sound crazy, but I like it like that."
Al Shabab complete the list of UAE clubs in the competition and they have Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan, Iran's Foolad Sepahan and Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) for company in Group D.
The AFC has drawn a list classing teams from West Asia into Groups A, B, C and D, while Groups E, F, G and H make up teams from the eastern half of the continent.
Ulsan Hyundai of Korea, Newcastle Jets (Australia), Beijing Guoan (China) and Nagoya Grampus of Japan are in Group E, while defending champions Gamba Osaka of Japan, FC Seoul (Korea), Sriwijaya of Indonesia and Shandong Luneng of China find themselves in Group F.
Group G comprises China's Shanghai Shenhua, Japan's Kashima Antlers, Suwon Samsung of Korea and the winner of the East Zone qualifier between PSMS Medan of Indonesia, Armed Forces (Singapore) and Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand.
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