The Boss' are entering a new era after Asamoah Gyan's departure and early questions marks on how their new signings will cope were put to bed when the Garden City club won the traditional season-opener, the Arabian Gulf Super Cup.
Published: Wed 19 Aug 2015, 9:25 PM
Another season is set to roll in the UAE top flight and hopes and dreams are plenty. Most of the 14 clubs have invested heavily on new players during the summer transfer window and it would be interesting to see which one of them will be left standing at the back end of 182 Arabian Gulf League fixtures.
On early evidence, Al Ain are looking right on the money on a title defence. 'The Boss' are entering a new era after Asamoah Gyan's departure and early questions marks on how their new signings will cope were put to bed when the Garden City club won the traditional season-opener, the Arabian Gulf Super Cup.
And now that coach Zlatko Dalic has exorcised the demons, the Croatian can go about his job unperturbed. He will be counting on his talisman Omar Abdulrahman, a largely peripheral figure last season because of injuries, to weave his magic across the 14 pristine football pitches across the UAE.
Nigerian international Emmanuel Emenike was impressive in his first run out for his new club and the Fenerbahce loanee will lead Al Ain's strike force. Brazilian playmaker Fellipe Bastos too has settled in well but former Ajax and Liverpool winger Ryan Babel, despite a selfless assist for Al Ain's opening goal in the Super Cup, may have to step it up a notch.
The defence is solid under Mohanad Salem, Ismail Ahmed, Mohammed Fayez and Mohammed Fawzi. It is work in progress but Al Ain have shown intent and look dangerous yet again. Al Ain could yet boss this one and stretch their record to 13.
The lead chasing pack could be Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Al Nasr and Bani Yas though one can never count out the League's 'Galacticos' Al Ahli apart from Al Wasl and Al Shabab.
Al Jazira have pressed the rewind button and had flashbacks of their double-winning 2011 season. Abel Braga was just a phone call away and the Pride of Abu Dhabi have probably made the right call in reuniting with their title-winning coach.
Perhaps, Al Jazira were a little too serious when they were almost there or thereabouts to claiming the League. But Braga has already managed to bring a few smiles back. The club like him, the players like him. Al Jazira resembled one happy family on their pre-season camp in Austria and are raring to go. A commanding figure, Braga will make winning a happy habit.
They have retained last season's top scorer Montenegro international Mirko Vucinic and brought in Peruvian international Jefferson Farfan, Brazilian playmaker Thiago Neves and South Korean midfielder Park Jong-woo. And with Emirati ace Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, Al Jazira could bring the Pride back to Abu Dhabi.
After a season of stability last term, Al Wahda have gone in for an overhaul with a new coach and have made the biggest signing of the summer. The Clarets have managed to prise Chilean international and former Al Ain playmaker Jorge Valdivia.
They have also brought in former Arsenal midfielder Denilson. With the retained Argentine Sebastian Tagliabue as well as the local talent that they possess, Al Wahda, under Mexican manager Javier Aguirre, who has coached Mexico and Japan and the likes of Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Osasuna, Zaragoza in the La Liga, look strong to win their first League title since 2009-10.
Al Nasr could be the dark horse, having signed Luis Antonio Jimenez from Al Ahli, Jonathan Pitroipa from Al Jazira, Jires Kembo-Ekoko from Al Ain as well as Brazilian Nilmar.
EMIRATI PLAYERS TO WATCH
FOREIGN PLAYERS TO WATCH
KT design by Roberto Canseco
james@khaleejtimes.com
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE
1973/1974
Al Sharjah
1981/1982 Al Wasl
1989/1990 Al Shabab
1997/1998 Al Ain
2005/2006 Al Ahli
1975/1976 Al Ahli
1983/1984 Al Ain
1991/1992 Al Wasl
1999/2000 Al Ain
2007/2008 Al Shabab
1977/1978 Al Nasr
1985/1986 Al Nasr
1993/1994 Al Sharjah
2001/2002 Al Ain
2009/2010 Al Wahda
1979/1980 Al Ahli
1987/1988 Al Wasl
1995/1996 Al Sharjah
2003/2004 Al Ain
2011/2012 Al Ain
2013/2014 Al Ahli
1974/1975 Al Ahli
1986/1987 Al Sharjah
1998/1999 Al Wahda
1980/1981 Al Ain
1992/1993 Al Ain
2004/2005 Al Wahda
1976/1977 Al Ain
1988/1989 Al Sharjah
2000/2001 Al Wahda
1982/1983 Al Wasl
1994/1995 Al Shabab
2006/2007 Al Wasl
2010/2011 Al Jazira
1978/1979 Al Nasr
1990/1991 Competition stopped
2002/2003 Al Ain
1984/1985 Al Wasl
1996/1997 Al Wasl
2008/2009 Al Ahli
2012/2013 Al Ain
2014/15 Al Ain
Al Wasl
Al Ahli
Al Sharjah
Al Wahda
Al Shabab
Al Nasr
Al Jazira
7
6
5
4
3
3
3
Al Ain
12
cosmin olaroiu
Al Ahli coach
We have to concentrate for the first game against Fujairah. It's not easy. We had difficult games with them last season
Javier Aguirre
Al Wahda coach
I spoke to Valdivia and briefed him about my plans. We are on track and he is feeling fresh after a good break. But we cannot rush him in straight away and I'm also in no hurry
KT Design by Roberto Canseco