Dubai: Former Italian midfielder Cesare Prandelli has called on officials to maintain a higher average playing time on the field after his Al Nasr team had eased their way to a 3-0 win against newly promoted Ajman Club in their Arabian Gulf Cup opener late on Friday.
Standing in at his first game since making a switch to the Gulf region as coach of Al Nasr, Prandelli felt that an actual shorter playing time is the basic difference between the European leagues and competitions here.
“It is after all just one match, but I have watched a few games here and I feel that we ought to spend more playing time on the pitch. There are way too many breaks during the game and the rhythm is lost,” Prandelli told Gulf News.
“We are here to play and entertain our fans, and when there are too many breaks in-between it not only breaks the momentum of the match but also perhaps makes the fans switch off,” he added.
But that did not stop his club from being among the major beneficiaries in opening round action of the Arabian Gulf Cup last weekend. Al Nasr, neighbours Al Wasl and Emirates Club were among the winners as the new season got under way.
Now playing with Al Wasl as their home ground, Al Nasr waited patiently against newly promoted Ajman for a 3-0 win to go on top of Group A, whereas neighbours Al Wasl and Emirates Club of Ras Al Khaimah share the top spot in Group B with convincing wins.
Jassim Yaqoub gave Al Nasr the lead three minutes from half-time, while Brazilian Santos Wanderley (57th minute) and new signing Marcelo da Silva (64th) ensured full points for the incoming coach.
“I am very happy with my first win today as wins like these help you to work with more calm. It is all a part of team-building and it gives us a sense that we are working in the right direction,” the 60-year-old Prandelli said.
“We know what we have to do from here on, and one of the things is the need to be patient and calm. I am sure we will get there,” he added.
Up early following a second minute strike from Hassan Mohammad, Al Wasl had to rely on a Caio Canedo penalty (53rd minute) and a Fabio De Lima winner three minutes from the final whistle to offset a Jociel Ferreira da Silva [Ciel] brace for full points in a Group A encounter. Emirates, perhaps, created an early season flutter when they scored midway into the second half through Abdelghani Mouaui and Sebastian Saez for a shock 2-0 win against a more fancied Sharjah Club.
The second round of Arabian Gulf Cup matches will be held on October 6-7, while the Arabian Gulf League will commence with opening round matches this weekend (September 15-16).
Results
Al Ain 2 Hatta 2
Dhafra 1 Al Jazira 1
Al Wahda 1 Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 1
Al Wasl 3 Dibba 2
Sharjah 0 Emirates 2
Al Nasr 3 Ajman 0
