Bani Yas out to secure GCC title

Abu Dhabi: Bani Yas will look to complete the job at home to Qatar’s Al Khor to win their first ever GCC Clubs Championship title on Thursday (8pm).

The Abu Dhabi club are close to glory after returning from Doha last week with a deserved 1-1 draw from the first leg.

“The title is so near, yet so far.” Salem Al Orfi, the caretaker coach of Bani Yas, said on Wednesday. “We can emerge champions even if we don’t score with a goalless tie, but at the same time we can lose it if our guests win with a single goal, or any other result.”

Bani Yas could have settled the score in Doha last week when they took complete control of the match in the second half. They levelled the scores and pressed for the winner, but failed to convert their chances even after Al Khor goalscorer Bruno Mineiro was sent off.

The UAE side fielded almost their entire youth team against Al Jazira in the Etisalat Pro-League on Monday and lost 3-1 as Al Orfi tried to give his key players a rest ahead of tonight’s crucial encounter.

“We played with ten reserve players. I believe that the final of the GCC Clubs Championship is more important than finishing third in the league. I asked my players to forget the result against Al Jazira and concentrate on our final match against Al Khor.” Al Orfi said.

Laszlo Boloni, the head coach of Al Khor, said: “The title is still on the field and is not decided yet. We are still hopeful of winning it. I have great respect for Bani Yas but we also have a good team, despite the absence of Bruno [Mineiro], who is suspended for being sent off in the last match.”

Bani Yas’ UAE international midfielder Amer Abdul Rahman is not expected to start the game. “Amer is still fighting to gain his full fitness and match touch after his injury. I am sure he needs more time to regain his brilliant form,” Al Orfi said of the player who was sent off against Al Jazira.

Julio Cesar, the former striker of Dubai’s Al Shabab, is expected to lead the attack for Al Khor in the place of Mineiro, while Andre Senghor and Christian Wilhelmsson will do the job up front for Bani Yas.

Al Orfi is also set to play Mohammad Abou Trika, Nawaf Mubarak, Sultan Al Ghafiri and Habboush Saleh in midfield, with Yousuf Jabar, Mohammad Fawzi, Tamer Mohammad and Mohammad Jaber in defence and Mohammad Ali Gholom in goal.