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.