Striker Sa'ad will have 'fantastic' season - manager

Dubai: Al Shabab team manager Obaid Al Hubaitha is predicting a fantastic season for mercurial striker Salem Sa'ad.

Sa'ad, who has been left out of the national team has been thriving due to the quality in the midfield.

"If you think Salem was good last year, then wait for this season," Al Hubaitha stated.

With coach Toninho Cerezo insisting on total commitment to teamwork, Sa'ad seems to have altered his on-field thinking. Or at least that is what the team manager feels.

"He's a much better player now and is going to make a huge impact on the league," Al Hubaitha said. "There's Assuncao and Renato and they will make a huge difference in helping Salem reach his full potential."

"The camp in Italy was good this year, and Salem is much more experienced today than he was last year. His form dipped and that is why Metsu dropped him from the national squad. But this is a good thing for us," Al Hubaitha beamed.

One of the most important aspects in the Al Shabab set-up is that the management has not tinkered with the winning combination.

They have not touched any of their youngsters who gelled so well as a unit on their way to an unexpected league title last season.

What they have done is bolstered the foreign presence in the side with quality and experience. There's Marcos Assuncao, formerly with Brazil and Real Betis and Renato de Souza, a free kick speciallist. And then they have opted for lanky Zimbabwean striker Musa Mguni, who is lethal in front of goal.

Al Shabab look like a team capable of adding some more trophies to their cabinet this season.

- Alaric Gomes