Al Dhafra end speculation over Bawazeer’s future, extend contract

Mohamad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

Al Dhafra put an end to all the speculation and extended the contract of Khaled Bawazeer for five more years till 2024 on Monday. Khalid’s future with the club was looking  uncertain as his contract extension talks were stalled for quite a while amid speculation that the deal might fall apart.

Both Bawazeer and Al Dhafra expressed their delight after the new deal, hoping for a longlasting relationship.

With the deadline for the transfer window approaching fast, all the clubs are busy in adding prowess, expertise and experience to their line-ups by roping in their target players and off loading those who have not been compatible with them.

Al Dhafra have made quite a few changes to their new-look squad during the summer transfer window. They also recruited three new foreign players to complete their foreign quartet ahead of the new season.

However, Al Dhafra also sharpened their attack by bringing in centre-forward Joao Pedro and attacking mid-fielder Diego Jardel from Saudi outfit Al Fateh and Qatari club Al Arabi respectively on free transfers.

Right winger Mikhail Rosheuvel is the other foreign addition to the team, who comes from Dutch club NAC Breda.  He has been handed a two-year contract that expires in 2021.

Unheralded foreign additions are regularly recruited by the clubs during the summer and winter transfer windows via unscrupulous recommendation. And, at times, a few of them do not even last until the new season’s kick-off.

They also procured attacking midfielder Amran Al Jassasi from Arabian Gulf League champions Sharjah on free transfer as well. Among the other notable local talents who will feature in the Al Dhafra colours in the new season are defenders Rashed Muhayer of Al Ain, Masoud Sulaiman of Al Nasr and goalkeeper Ibraheem Al Kaabi of Fujairah.

Al Dhafra also off-loaded as many as seven players, to curb their spending and maintain their balance sheets.

Yaser Al Junaibi, Nicolas Milesi, Diego, Ibraheem Alawi, Hasan Al Hammadi and Romulo are the few names who have been sent to the other clubs either on free transfer or load.