Al Fateh win Al Wahda’s pre-season tournament

Abu Dhabi: Reigning Saudi Arabian champions Al Fateh won the second Al Wahda Friendly Football Tournament after beating Kuwait’s Olympic team 1-0 to total seven points from three matches.

Hosts Al Wahda came second with five points after beating Saudi’s Al Shabab with a goal from Badr Al Harthi.

The tournament was marred by the weather, as the heat and humidity forced the referees to stop the matches many times to allow the players to drink water, bearing in mind that most were fasting during Ramadan and many of the foreign players were yet adapt to the temperature or the styles of their teams and colleagues.

Nevertheless, the tournament helped the coaches, especially Al Wahda’s Karel Jarolim, who has got to know his new players ahead of their upcoming training camp in Europe.

The tournament has also succeeded in unveiling a number of young, highly talented players — including Eisa Abdullah. Mohammad Ahmad Qahtani, Al Harthi and Zayed Al Kathiri — from the Al Wahda reserve team, who could easily play for the senior team in the new Arabian Gulf League next month.

Damian Diaz, Marco Estrada and Sebastian Tagliabue, Al Wahda’s three new foreign professionals, showed glimpses of their capabilities but need more time to settle in and show their true worth.

Al Wahda played their best match against Al Shabab and they scored the only goal when Mohammad Al Shehhi crossed from the left flank for Al Harthi to score from close range in the 74th minute.

Congolese forward Doris Salumo, the top scorer of the tournament, headed Al Fateh’s only goal against Kuwait in the 27th minute to seal the points and the tournament title for his team. Al Fateh’s Brazilian Elton was the tournament’s MVP, while Kuwait’s Mohammad Abdul Latif was named the best young player.