Zabeel teams unveil Samba stars

Dubai: Zabeel rivals Al Wasl and Al Nasr have both banked on Brazilian know-how after confirming new acquisitions in the last 24 hours.

Al Wasl will announce Sergio Farias as their new manager at an 11am press conference at the Zabeel Stadium this morning, while last night, just across Shaikh Rashid Road, Al Nasr's new playmaker, Leo Lima joined the squad for his first training session.

Forty-three-year-old Sergio Ricardo de Paiva Farias brings with him a wealth of experience, having lifted the AFC Champions League with South Korean outfit Pohang Steelers in 2009.

In his four-year stint with the club he also won the Korean FA Cup (2008) the K-League Cup (2009) and the K-League in 2007. His crowning achievement in Brazil was clinching the Serie C title with Sao Paulo's Uniao Barbarense in 2004 and the U17 South American Championship with Santos FC in 2000. His CV also takes in stints with the U17 and U20 Brazilian national team set-up.

This will be his thirteenth club across five countries and three continents; Brazil, Senegal, Korea, Saudi Arabia and now the UAE.

He left his most recent club Al Ahli Jeddah after failing to take them past the group stages of the Asian Champions League.

Farias takes over from Brazilian-born Costa Rican Alexandre Guimares whose contract was not renewed by the Cheetah's despite having lifted the Gulf Club Champions Cup and finishing fifth in the league last season.

Attacking midfielder

Meanwhile, former Vasco de Gama, FC Porto and CSKA Sofia attacking midfielder Leonardo Lima da Silva met his Al Nasr teammates at training for the first time last night.

The 28-year-old joins from Sao Paolo to renew an association with new Brazilian Al Nasr coach Helio dos Anjos. The pair were together briefly at Vasco de Gama in 2001.

Dos Anjos, 52, is best known as the Saudi coach who lost in the 2007 Asian Cup final against Iraq. He took over at Al Nasr late last season to avoid relegation with a tenth place finish, nine points from safety, after both Frank Pagelsdorf and Laurent Banide failed to stop the rot.

Lima joins Al Nasr's only other overseas player Carlos Tenorio, 31, of Ecuador.

Al Nasr have dumped Dutch-born Moroccan Anouar Diba to the reserves and are on the look out for a third foreigner to complete their allowance.

Meanwhile, Al Wasl's overseas trio for the new season is complete with 30-year-old Spanish midfielder Francisco Yeste joining from Athletico Bilbao to complement existing expatriates - Brazilian striker Alexander Oliveira and Omani defender Mohammed Al Sheiba.

Both teams now travel to Germany for pre-season training. Al Wasl are away from July 15 until August 5 and Al Nasr will be out of town from July 12 until August 6.

Al Wasl's friendly matches are yet to be confirmed but Al Nasr are believed to be playing Qatar's Al Sailiya, Nuremberg and 1860 Munich with a fourth fixture to be confirmed.