Dubai: Jakson ‘Jaja' Coelho's dramatic Al Ahli exit won't be the last this winter, according to club chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah, who has promised a January clear-out in order to reverse his side's poor fortunes.
Al Naboodah ranted that Jaja will never wear the club's shirt again after the striker fled the UAE on Sunday following the club's 4-0 President's Cup second round defeat to Al Wasl.
The Dh21.2 million summer transfer from Turkey's Trabzonspor left only an SMS message as he boarded a last-minute flight to Brazil citing personal reasons, just six months in to a three-year contract.
With Al Ahli ninth in the Etisalat Pro League with four losses in seven matches, Al Naboodah's wrath is next expected to turn to injured Lebanese defender Yousuf Mohammad and Chilean striker Luis Jimenez, as well as local forward Faisal Khalil.
"We will look at all the contracts, any departure from the text, not with Jaja alone, but with any player found to be falling short in his contribution will be addressed," Al Naboodah told the Arabic press.
"Losing is part of football, but not in our vocabulary and unacceptable to us is the degree of resignation from our players. From January, when the transfer window re-opens, we will begin the process of finding replacements to support and assist the team in the way it deserves.
Carrying responsibility
"Anyone who does not give 100 per cent does not deserve to wear the shirt. We will pick the good players from the bad and lose the latter at all levels. Commitment is a commodity, not the player. Once this has been decided they wont be trusted again."
Of newly-appointed Spanish coach Quique Sanches Flores, who replaced sacked Ivan Hasek after the Czech reportedly had a fall-out with Jaja, Al Naboodah conceded: "The coach is not the only one responsible. The coach has a history of achievements in the best league in the world. I carry the responsibility of what is happening alone. We need to create conditions that enable him to fulfil his aspirations and, if there is a defect in another part of the team, it must be acted upon."
