Al Wahda to celebrate title win in a big way

The supporters of Al Wahda Club, winners of the UAE's First Division League title, will assemble at the Al Nahyan Stadium on May 19 for a grand celebration.

Club sources said a musical evening along with a felicitation function will be accompanied by a car parade of the victorious league champions and their supporters.

Two top Arab singers, Rashid Al Majid and Reda Minhalli will entertain the crowd during the evening.

Al Wahda clinched the first division title last Thursday after a dramatic 45 minutes of play both at the Al Nahyan Stadium as well as the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium, home of their neighbours the Al Jazira club.

The Al Wahda supporters were frustrated at being down by a first half goal to lowly rated Al Dhafra, but their team hit back for a 5-2 win.

Even as their victory was being fashioned, Al Jazira struck two second-half goals to stun reigning champions Al Ain and Al Wahda's supporters broke into wild celebration.

Al Wahda will play their last league game, an away match against Al Wasl, and will be crowned champions the same day.

This is Al Wahda's third triumph in the league: all titles coming in the last six years, since they won their first in 1999, after competing in the league for over 25 years.

However, since 1999, Al Wahda and Al Ain have dominated the league, with the latter winning five times in the last eight seasons.

While Al Ain snatched the league title from Al Wahda in 2000, the latter won it back in 2001. Al Ain again regained the title in 2002 and held on to it since then with three straight wins.

Al Wahda have once again proved to be Al Ain's arch rivals by winning the title with five points separating the two teams and one round of matches still left in the league.

Al Ain will now look to compensate their fans with a good display in the AFC Champions League.

The Milan Macala-led former AFC Champions League winners are just one point behind leaders Sepahan of Iran with two games to play.

Al Ain take on Syria's Al Wahda in an away game this week and then play host to Sepahan. Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab are also in contention in this four-team group from which one team advances to the knock-out quarterfinals.

Al Ain should be able to garner full points in the away assignment against first-time qualifiers Al Wahda of Syria.