Al Jazira to open defence against Al Ahli
Fixtures announced for the new UAE Pro-League season, which begins in mid-October
Dubai: Al Jazira will commence the defence of their crown when they face former champions Al Ahli in the opening round of the UAE Pro-League at home in mid-October.
The official draw for the 2011-12 season was held yesterday in the presence of the football community and led by representatives of the 12 Pro-League clubs, members of the UAE Football Association and the Interim Pro-League Committee led by Saeed Abdul Gaffar Hussain.
The new season will officially kick off on September 10 with the Etisalat Super Cup that will see league champions Al Jazira take on President's Cup runners-up and Al Wahda.
Last season, Al Jazira won their maiden league title with 53 points following a near flawless record of 16 wins, five draws and just one loss — at the hands of Al Ain, who eventually managed to stay afloat in the top division.
Bani Yas were runners-up on 41 points, while Al Nasr were third with 35 points.
With top players on national duty for the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, it has been decided to have the teams play the preliminary rounds of the Etisalat Cup. The 12 Pro-League teams will be divided into two pools of six each and the first round matches will be held on September 15 and 16.
Al Shabab, winners of the 2011 competition, head Group B along with Bani Yas, Al Nasr, Al Ahli, Sharjah and Ajman Club, while Al Jazira are at the top of Group A along with Diego Maradona's Al Wasl, Al Wahda, Dubai Club, Al Ain and new entrants Emirates Club, Ras Al Khaimah.
Ittihad Kalba and Al Dhafra were the two teams relegated at the end of last season making way Ajman Club and Emirates Club.
Last year, the league began at the end of August and went on until June 5 with several breaks during the course of the year.
This year the season ends on May 6, but organisers expect to face scheduling problems due to the commitments of the UAE senior and Olympic squads.
