Shabab Al Ahli, Al Nasr look to maintain winning momentum

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

The battle for the quarter-finals in the Arabian Gulf Cup (AGC) has already heated up as the competition enters fifth round on Friday.

Three matches will played on Friday and four on Saturday. In the first game, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai will take on Ittihad Kalba at the Kalba Union Sports & Cultural Club in a 6:15 kick-off.

Group B leaders Al Wahda will face off with sixth-place Ajman and while in the mid-table clash in Group A, Al Nasr will meet Al Jazira at the Al Maktoum Stadium.

Shabab Al Ahli coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena predicted a tough a match and ruled out any complacency against the rock-bottom Kalba.

He said: “It is an important match and we are fully focused on returning to winning ways. We are confident of coming running away with full three points.”

Shabab Al Ahli, who have seven points form four games with two wins , one loss and one draw, were beaten 2-1 by the table toppers Al Dhafra in the last round match of the AGC.

Arruabarrena is wary of Kalb and vowed not to take them lightly in any ways.

“The opponents also have an impressive line-up. They have good players who can change the complexion of any game. Although there are some absentees in our team as they are with their national teams but we will try our best to win the match.

Commenting on the inclusion of 21-year-old Brazilian player Lenardo for the match, he said: “It is not fair to compare the young players with the experienced ones. But he has a good potential. He will definitely play in the match.”

“Few key players in missing as they are with their national teams for the Olympic qualifiers and there are some injuries as well but we try and pick the best possible team for the match,” he concluded.

Kalba coach Jorge De Silva said: “Preparation for the game is good. We went through extensive training and player are ready to go.

“There are no injury concern. Five international players are out of the squad as they are on national duty and this is good opportunity for the young players to cement their places in the team. We will try to come out with a positive result,” he added.

Kalba’s Yousef Al Zaabi also commented: “All the players are in full readiness for the match and we will try to achieve full points against Shabab Al Ahli. “I thank the coach who gave me the opportunity in the last game and I will try to ensure my place in the starting line -up for the next stage,” he added.

Meanwhile, Al Nasr coach Kronaslav Juric said team is confident of returning with a positive result.

“We have an important match like all the games we play against Al-Jazira team, which is one of the best teams. In the UAE, we have to give everything. We have to keep the winning momentum going which is very important.

“The team now lives in a positive atmosphere after the recent victories in the Arabian Gulf League, which is reflected in the determination of the players in the training, so we must do our best to maintain the tone of the victories.”

Al Nasr are fourth in the Arabian Gulf Cup with four points after one win, two losses and one draw while in the league they have shown a remarkable resurgence with two wins from the last three games.

“The tournament is as important as all the tournaments we play in, and we play all the games with the intention of winning, because we want to make a strong run this year across all the tournaments we play. Commenting on the absence of the players, he said: “We have a lot of absentees in the squad, due to the presence of more than one player in our national team, as well as the suspension of Globier Lima and Muhannad Obaid. “But at the same time, we have a rich reserve of players young players. And this game is important for them because this participation is a big opportunity for them to show their artistic abilities to everyone in the club.