Sharjah footballers gear up for new season

The senior football squad of the Sharjah Sports Club have launched their preparations for the new season with a light workout on Wednesday under the supervision of their Brazilian coach Paulo Bonamigo.
Brazilian duo Wanderley and Ramos were back in action while their newly recruited compatriot Renato Caja is undergoing the medical tests and is expected to unite with the team on Friday.
Shaikh Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Thani, chairman of the club, attended the first training session and urged the players to give their best during the upcoming season which, he said, is going to be very exceptional with the quality of players that have been brought by AGL clubs.
"We are delighted to continue with Brazilian coach Bonamigo and I'm confident that he's going to take the team to new heights. Bonamigo told me that he's happy with the players whether those who have been newly signed or others who will continue with the club from last season," he said.
"I would like to thank His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his strong support and backing and I'm confident that the players will live up to his expectations," he said while promising the members of the team every assistance that would be needed.
According to the supervisor of the team, Essa Mir, the decision to retain Brazilian players Ramos (captain), who's playing as Asian player (Palestinian), and Wanderley was based on their respective performance during the recent years. "Ramos has been doing very well and for this reason we have appointed him as captain and leader of the tem. Wanderley is enjoying his second season with Sharjah. Last season he scored 17 goals in the AGL matches plus six goals in the President Cup and the AGL Cup," he added.
Regarding the new recruit Renato, Mir said he has arrived on Tuesday and will be with the players before heading to Austria on Friday for a three-week European tour. "We have organised four friendlies during the external training camp and will return home on August 12," he said. "Still we have to decide on the fourth player. Most probably he will be Brazilian forward," he noted. "The club has parted ways with Rodrigo and Mario D'Silva," he confirmed.
Speaking about the local talent, Mir said only three players have been signed and services of four players were terminated. "We have signed Walid Ahmed, a former Al Ahli and Ajman player, alongside left back Hamdan Qassim from Emirates and the attacking midfielder Walid Tahmud. Four players have been terminated including Salim Khamis, Ali Saeed, Abdulla Darweesh and Abdulla Traore," he said.
Meanwhile, the key local players who have remained with the club are Yousuf Saeed, Saif Rashid, Mohin Khalifa, Omar Jumaa Rabie, Shahhen Abdul Rahman, Abdulla Ghanim, Essa Mohammed, Mohammed Suroor and keeper Mohammed Yousuf. But, Sharjah will miss the efforts of their keeper Rashid Ahmed who was called for the National Service.
Nicknamed 'The King and Century Club', Sharjah won the first UAE football national league in the 1973-74 season and went on to claim the title four times in 1986-87, 1988-89, 1993-94 and 1995-96.
Sharjah have won the President Cup eight times in 1979, 1980, 1983, 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2003 and accordingly they were nicknamed 'The King' of the Cup. But this figure was matched by Al Ahli two years ago. In 1995, Sharjah won the Super Club and finished runners-up in the GCC Champions League as their best achievement in 1991.
Nine players from Sharjah were in the UAE senior football national team who participated in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy.