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Al Shaab run into Baniyas

Al Shaab and Dibba made their way up to the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) after a consistent show from the mid stages in Division 1 during the 2014-15 season.
The outfits begin their campaigns this season with home games on Thursday against Abu Dhabi sides, kickoffs at 7.30pm. Al Shaab take on visitors Baniyas at Khalid bin Mohamed Stadium while Dibba play Capital big timers Al Wahda at Fujairah Stadium.
After a season top flight soccer returns to the 7,000 capacity Sharjah-based complex of Al Shaab, also nicknamed The Commandos.
Shaab who finished second in Division 1 for a well earned climb back to the premier league have memories they would want to forget of their disappointing show in the AGL during the 2012-13 season.
Shaab's Egyptian coach Tarek El Ashry has a trump card in veteran Frenchman Michael N'Dri, the only foreigner retained while Celios Santos, Matias Donoso and Amr Al Sulaya have joined as the other foreign recruits in the squad.
N'Dri has been a loyal worker during the good and bad times of the Sharjah outfit and his experience will come in handy as Ashry chalks out a game plan to stop Baniyas who will be taking the road trip with full points in mind.
After the initial medical examination, Egypt's national player Sulaya, previously of the Egyptian premier league side Ismaily, will be going all out to impress right from the start to justify the trust the Al Shaab management have put on him. He is reportedly agreed to a Dh1.1 million annual salary plus other perks.
Brazilian-East Timorese defender Santos whose last destination was Iran's Tractor Sazi, and Chilean midfielder Donoso from Chile's Cobresal, can form the nucleus of a determined side along with striker N'Dri.
Bani Yas have 23-year old Algerian striker Ishak Belfodil who departed from bankrupt Italian side Parma having landed here in a two-year deal, though his actual form on the big stage and the ability to be a match winner are still in doubt.
The Sky Blues who finished eighth in the 2014-15 AGL have Argentinian striker Joaquin Larrivey and Australian midfielder Mark Milligan to give them some amount of fire power.
moni@khaleejtimes.com