Continental Adventures for UAE Sides

I must admit that prior to 2009 the AFC Champions League was not a competition I considered myself slightly interested in and for the past two seasons I have merely checked who was still participating in the competition to determine who could be coming to Abu Dhabi for the FIFA Club World Cup. This season I will have my eyes fixed on any game involving Emirati sides - Al Wahda, Al Jazira, Al Ain and Emirates – as they attempt to become champions of Asia. Being crowned the best football team in your continent is no mean feat and the ultimate achievement in club football.

The best UAE performers in the Champions League are Al Ain who managed to win the tournament in 2003 and also were beaten finalists in 2005. Al Ain were also the best of the UAE cohort in last year’s edition of the tournament when they accumulated seven points in the group stage and narrowly missed out on progression to the next round. However expectations will be lower this time around. Al Ain have endured a torrid domestic campaign this season and are currently in a battle for survival sitting in 11^th place with only eleven points from thirteen games. Though the Etisalat Cup has provided some respite the continental competition could provide a platform for further embarrassment.

The club have been placed in the Eastern section of the Champions League and face teams from China, Japan and South Korea. Teams from Korea and Japan have historically fared better in the tournament and their national team’s domination in the Asian Cup show the gulf between football in the East and West. Al Ain play their first tie on Wednesday at 7.05pm. Their opponents will be FC Seoul from South Korea. The K-League champions include a number of international stars as well as Uzbek midfielder Server Djeparov. The former Asian Footballer of the Year scored two goals against Arab sides in January’s Asian Cup and will certainly be a player to look out for. While the Champions League may not be a priority for Al Ain right now it will still provide much need experience and should be an exciting spectacle.

Another club who will be participating to enjoy the experience of playing with the best in the continent will be last year’s President’s Cup winners Emirates. The side from Ras al Khaimah were comprehensively relegated along with Ajman last season but their 3-1 victory over Al Shabab at Zayed Sports City last April gave them a place in Asia’s top club competition. The club proudly sit at the top of Division One and gave up a good fight to Pro-League side Al Jazira in the weekend’s President’s Cup tie narrowly losing 3-2. Emirates Club travel to Iran to take on last year’s runners-up Zob Ahan on Wednesday night.

For many it will be Al Jazira, pride of Abu Dhabi, who will be the UAE’s great hope. Al Jazira are surging towards their first domestic title and welcome Al Gharafa of Qatar to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium at 7.25pm on Tuesday. Al Gharafa defeated the Abu Dhabi club 4-2 and 2-1 in the group stage last year but Al Jazira have made significant improvements since then and have not lost a league game in over a year. The Champions League will hopefully create some exciting nights in Abu Dhabi with a stadium and fan base well suited to top quality football. Al Gharafa are graced with stars including Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud and Brazilian legend Juninho Pernambucano and will no doubt provide a stern test for Al Jazira and truly show how far they have progressed.

Last year’s Etisalat Pro-League champions Al Wahda will play Uzbekistan’s FC Bunyodkor. Like Al Jazira, Al Wahda faced their opponents in last year’s competition and were beaten on both occasions. Al Wahda have suffered an indifferent season but find themselves in the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions. With a talented group of players Al Wahda could pull something out of the bag but a tough group also including Iran’s Piroozi and Saudi’s Al Ittihad it may prove too much for the Abu Dhabi club. Their first game kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday at the Al Nahyan Stadium.

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Al Ahli's Chronic Lack of Firepower

When Al Ahli beat Al Wasl 4-1 at the beginning of this UFL season, the fans of the Red Knights would have rightfully been optimistic of the season that lay ahead. After bringing in a top class coaching team from Europe, signing two players from Italy and Germany (one having captained his country to the World Cup and won FIFA World Player of the Year) and bringing in proven talent Pinga, many had high hopes for the Dubai outfit. Their first home game saw their new Brazilian midfielder bag his first goal as well as a double from former Al Ain star Ahmed Khamis and a fine finish from teenage sensation Ahmed Khalil in a one sided affair.

Sadly for Al Ahli, this superb performance did not lay down a marker for the rest of the season; in fact it was to be the one major highlight of a mediocre campaign. Pinga increased his goal tally two weeks later in a 2-2 draw with Kalba then Ahmed Khamis added to his own and Burkinabe striker Aristide Bance opened his account before being dismissed in an unlucky 2-2 draw with Al Jazira. The inconsistency that would blight the season was becoming apparent but at least the goals appeared to be flying in.

Al Ahli seemed to be on the verge of a revival in November after a 5-2 Etisalat Cup victory over Sharjah with goals again coming from Khamis and Pinga in addition to a Bance hat-trick but it was to prove a false dawn as the Red Knights would not experience that winning feeling again until late December.

The victories over Al Wasl and Sharjah stand out as two fantastic team performances from Al Ahli with goals aplenty. However early January would result in another turning point for the club when it was announced Bance was departing to Qatar. At the time many believed Al Ahli would fill their foreign quota with another striker but instead opted for Moroccan defensive midfielder Karim El Ahmadi from Feyenoord.

This decision could be factored in to the recent poor performance of the team. While Bance was perhaps a disappointment in the amount of Pro-League with only two goals, it is fair to say his presence has been missed. Bance, a strongly-built yet technically good striker, played through the middle of the Al Ahli strike force often accompanied by young Ahmed Khalil or his brother Faisal. A man to mark, Bance would drag defenders away from goal leaving space for his teammates as well as holding up possession and providing passes for the likes of Khamis and Khalil to run onto. Since his departure, Ahli’s play has been one-dimensional. Though the team have not struggled with possession or creating chances, they often look like there is no plan B.

After Bance’s decision to leave the club, Al Ahli have played eight competitive games; winning two, drawing four and losing two, scoring a measly four goals in the process. Three of these goals were from Pinga, two of which were penalties. Al Ahli have become over-reliant on the Brazilian as the clubs other attackers are simply not good enough to play up front on their own. Ahmed Khalil has struggled particularly in the lone striker role with a lack of support and a preference to run wide rather than straight to goal. Now with David O’Leary’s job in jeopardy his decision to let the Burkinabe striker go could come back to haunt him.

Roy Aitken, assistant to the Irishman, said after Thursday’s President’s Cup defeat to Al Wasl, “We had three clear opportunities as did Al Wasl but the difference was they took theirs.” This is the problem for Al Ahli. Their good teamwork is being undermined by an inability to stick the ball in the net. A lack of direct penetration of the defense and clinical striking has meant the club will collect no trophies this year, unacceptable to most fans. Unless the players get their shooting boots on soon there could be severe recriminations for the whole team.

Derby Day in Dubai Part Two

Dubai rivals Al Ahli and Al Wasl lock horns for the second time in six days in tonight’s President’s Cup quarter final tie at Al Shabab Club in Dubai. The Cheetahs were the victors in Saturday’s Pro-League tie against David O’Leary’s men with two second half goals coming from substitutes Saeed Al Kas and Omran Abdulrahman.

The game bore similarities with any derby around the world: impassioned fans, hard tackling and debatable refereeing decisions combining to make a fantastic spectacle. The game started cautiously with both sides eager to keep things tight and not make any unnecessary errors; Al Wasl had been humiliated back in September by their adversaries after conceding a goal in the second minute followed by two more before half time, finishing the game 4-1 down. There was to be no such drama in Zabeel until Ismail Al Hamadi went through on goal in the 44^th minute. The UAE international looked to have been brought down by the Al Wasl central defence and the referee blew his whistle. The Al Ahli support, situated at the opposing end of the stadium, celebrated as the opportunity to take the lead presented itself. However their joy was quickly turned to despair as referee Ali Hamad issued Al Hamadi with a yellow card for diving, his second having previously been booked for a stupid altercation with the opposition, and the Red Knights were reduced to ten men.

While David O’Leary refused to comment on the referee’s performance after the match, club officials Abdullah Al Naboodah and Ahmad Khalifa Hammad were less than impressed. Al Naboodah launched a stinging criticism of the man in the middle after the game and this was followed up with an official complaint from Ahmad Khalifa Hammad.

The sending off was undoubtedly the turning point of the game. Al Ahli came out for the second half with a sense of urgency knowing the pressure was on them with fewer players. A few chances came their way, notably to Karim El Ahmadi who hit the post after some superb build up play. However, Al Wasl gradually pushed Al Ahli deeper into their own half and began to take control of the game. A goal for the home team seemed inevitable and was tucked away by Al Kas in the 69^th minute. Despite making several changes and pushing for the equalizer, the away side could not find the key to unlock the Al Wasl defense and put the ball behind Majed Naser. With Al Ahli camped high up the park searching for a dramatic late goal Rashed Essa broke away with the ball in the fourth minute of stoppage time. His superb pass found Abdulrahman who slotted the ball past Saif Yousif sending the whole Al Wasl community wild.

Though defeating their rivals comprehensively in September, Al Ahli have now lost to Al Wasl on their last three occasions. With the President’s Cup the Red Knights last chance of silverware reaching the Rashid Stadium this season, the players and fans – who vehemently voiced their discontent after the league defeat – will be desperate to win tonight. O’Leary and Al Naboodah have maintained their stance that this year is designated for learning and team building but must realise the Ahlawy will want to see evidence of progress. Al Wasl on the other hand would love nothing more than to end their Dubai counterparts dreams of success. The Zabeel side are chasing a cup double with an Etisalat Cup Semi-Final versus Al Ain scheduled for 10^th March. Tonight’s fixture will certainly be one to watch. The momentum and sense of confidence from Al Wasl versus the feeling of injustice and desire for revenge from Al Ahli will definitely culminate in a compelling, enthralling encounter to reach the last four of the competition.

Al-Jazira Ease Towards Victory

With only ten matches left for most Etisalat Pro-League teams, the competition has reached a pivotal stage. In the coming games it will become clearer who will be the winners and losers of the 2010/2011 campaign. Who will qualify for Champions League action? Who will miss out? Who will be relegated? Who will just escape the drop? One question not being asked is who will be the champions. Al Jazira - the only team not to have lost a league game, with a goal difference of +22 and with no points dropped since late September – are sailing towards their first ever league title. The club currently sit seven points ahead of Bani Yas and look determined to finally become champions and do it with style.

Al Jazira are reaping the rewards of long term planning and increased professionalism. The Abu Dhabi club have consistently been in the top three since the 2004/2005 season and narrowly missed out on winning the UAE’s first league title since turning professional when they finished one point behind Al Ahli in 2009. Now under the stewardship of Brazilian coach Abel Braga they are ready to claim their prize. Braga is one of the longest serving managers in the UFL leading the club since 2008, and unlike many other clubs in the region, Al Jazira have resisted the temptation to sack their boss when things do not go to plan. The Brazilian has instilled a winning mentality in his players and has created one of the most lethal and proficient teams in the Middle East.

The form Al Jazira have displayed this season is typical a team who see themselves as champions-elect with a mixture of wonderful goal-laden displays and a rugged willpower to grind out results. Al Jazira hammered second placed Bani Yas 4-0 in October as well as comprehensively pushing aside possible title contenders Al Wasl 3-1. Last week Ibrahim Diaky’s 85^th minute penalty against Al Nasr was reminiscent of the club’s top goalscorer’s winning penalty in round two versus Sharjah, demonstrating the team’s ability to win when dropped points looked inevitable. Al Jazira managed a 97^th minute equaliser against Al Ahli, snatching one point and denying the Dubai outfit all three. Two weeks from today Al Jazira will begin their Asian Champions League campaign facing Qatar’s Al Garrafa, Iran’s Sepahan and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in their group. Many will view them as UAE’s great hope, especially following Al Ain’s poor domestic form and the lack of experience of Emirates Club.

It is not only on the park that Al Jazira are progressing. The Etisalat Pro-League aims to become the most professional league in the Asian region and Al Jazira are the beacon of this. With Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan steering the club along with Scottish CEO Phil Anderton; they have increased attendances significantly in their magnificent stadium, increased sponsorship revenues and successfully operated both Arabic and English websites. With this partnership of footballing and marketing success there are certainly exciting times ahead for Al Jazira. No UAE football fan could begrudge Al Jazira this deserved reward for the hard work they have put in. Hopefully other clubs will follow suit and we will see the further progression of Emirati football.