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Braga hopes to paint
a pretty picture

Eighteen pieces of silverware, won from different disciplines, peak through the glass over the plush-looking lobby.

The Etisalat Emirates Cup won last season, is there too. But the silence is eerie.

But it could well be the calm before the storm.

The trophy cabinet looks quite impressive with those cups and mementos but Al Jazira aren’t happy. There is one missing from that trophy cabinet—the UAE Pro-League—and that is what they want the most.

Al Jazira weren’t third time lucky last time around and would be looking to remove the tag of eternal bridesmaid this season. Al Jazira, who have finished second in the League for the past three years, are training their guns again on that elusive title. And manager Abel Braga (in picture), in his third season in charge of the big-spending club in this part of the world, is working silently but with renewed determination to land the spoils this season.

Al Jazira lock horns with Al Nasr in their opener at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Friday night.

While Dubai-based Al Ahli have eaten up reams of newsprint, airtime and space on the worldwide web because of their high-profile signing of Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and manager David O’Leary, formerly manager of Premiership clubs Leeds United and Aston Villa, Jazira have been low profile and working quietly but with a sense of purpose. For starters, they disbanded their expensive signings Rafael Sobis and Ricardo Oliveira. Sobis was worth Dh 65 million, while Oliveira was worth Dh 85 million. Both are on loan to Brazilian clubs.

Braga retained his Ivorian striker Tony and brought in Brazilian Bare from Al Ahli to beef up the attack. Argentine attacking playmaker Matias Emilio Delgado is their third foreign recruit. Delgado played for Turkish club Besiktas. They are signing two more local players.

The background at the press conference was white. And manager Braga is hoping to paint a pretty picture on the canvas. “Our main target is the UAE Pro-League,” manager Braga said on Wednesday night.

“The players showed complete harmony during the training camp in Austria and the pre-season friendly matches,” he said.

Braga was full of praise for some of his young players and substitutes like Ahmed Jumaa, Abdullah Qasem and Abdullah Abdul Qader Al-Seiari, especially in their friendly game against Hatta. About their opponents, Braga said: “The first match in any competition is difficult. The weather is not ideal. The temperature is high and this may affect the players. Al Nasr are a strong team. They have a good coach and some fine local and foreign players. Al Nasr took advantage of the transfer season in strengthening their squad.

Braga said that the fight for the League title will be tougher this season as other clubs have sized them up. “All the other teams know exactly how Al Jazira play, so it is going to be even tougher,” said the Brazilian.

Bragan reckoned that unlike last season, where the race for the title was between Al Wahda and Al Jazira, there would be three or more contenders this season.

“The competition will be between three or more teams,” he said. As far as team news goes, new signing Bare will have to wait another game to don the Jazira jersey as he is carrying a red card from last season. Abdul Salem Jumaa and Tariq Ahmed will also not figure due to injury.

Jazira have completed the formalities with Argentine playmaker Matias Emilio Delgado but Braga confirmed that he will not feature in the opener. “We will not risk pushing him in the first game because he needs to play more and gel well with his teammates. We will watch him closely,” said Braga.

Meanwhile, Al Nasr have added Brazilian forward Leonardo Silva from Sao Paulo and defender Hilal Saeed Obaid from Al Ain.

All matches during Ramadan will kick-off at 10 p.m

james@khaleejtimes.com