Al Ain squad depart for Swiss camp

The Al Ain senior soccer team yesterday left via Dubai for a five-week camp in Switzerland and Italy.

Hamad bin Nikhairat Al Amry, member of the club's honorary council and supervisor of the team, is leading the 38-member delegation.

The mission also includes Mattar Obaid Al Sahbani, the team manager, French coach Bruno Metsu and other officials along with a squad of 26 players. The league champions will stay for 12 days in Cron Montana region in Switzerland.

The team's technical body decided to confine the first stage only for physical fitness to be concluded with a lone friendly game. They are scheduled to move to Italy by August 5 where they are planning to play six friendlies against some top Italian clubs.

Faisal Ali, Ali Masary, Rami Yaslam and Ali Ahmed Ali will miss the first phase of preparations as they are on national duty with the UAE Olympic team.

Al Ain face Dalian Shide of China on August 30 in their away Asian Champions League encounter. A draw will suffice the UAE side to qualify for the final against Thailand's BEC Tero Sasana.