Dubai: Newly-promoted Dibba have vowed to improve and evolve over the new few weeks and rattle an opponent or two in the bargain during their first-ever appearance in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) this year.
Dibba fought well before going down 2-3 against Al Shabab in their first round Group B match of the Arabian Gulf Cup on a hot and humid night here late on Thursday. Down to a 17th minute goal from former Brazilian World Cup star Jo, Dibba fought well and drew level a minute from half-time when Khalifa Ebrahim volleyed home.
The visitors then took the lead through Boris Kabi in the 66th minute, but Henrique Luvannor headed in the equalizer four minutes later and then found an empty goal in the 82nd to save Al Shabab the blushes.
“We are sad we lost a game that we should have won. We played wise and if we were to count individual mistakes on either side then we had a fair chance of winning this one. Finally, it was speed and experience that counted for Al Shabab,” Dibba coach Johannes Theo Bucker told media at the post-match conference.
“For the time being, we will consider these matches as a preparation for the league. I don’t think we are here to win the league, but we are here to ensure we at least collect enough points to ensure we stay back in the competition. We have potential as a team and we will ensure we make this count as the competition progresses,” the German promised.
Promoted to play in the AGL this season, Dibba received a sound 4-0 thrashing at home at the hands of Al Wahda in their AGL opener last week. So considering that result, Thursday’s match-up against a team that ended third last season was of special significance. “On the one hand we are very sad for the result, and on the other, we have the positives we can count. So considering everything I think we are on the right path,” he said.
The German was encouraged with the response of his team, especially the UAE players, despite trailing Al Shabab early. “The entire team is undergoing a process of turning fully professional. What I am trying to impress on them is that this is a completely new era for all of them. This is not going to happen overnight, but I will still continue telling them that I want them to be more serious and professional in their approach,” Bucker said.
“We are getting a different kind of attitude into their minds. We have to learn a lot. In the end we lost the game, but if we have to look at the complete picture then we should be happy with what we achieved against such a big team. But I am a very bad loser and now we have to suffer a little bit before we continue with our progress,” he added.
