Dubai: Ajman need one point from their last match in the etisalat Second Division League to secure promotion to the professional league which will start for the first time next season.
Ajman host Masafi, second from the bottom in the standings, on Friday and will look to clinch at least one point to ensure promotion to the elite division for the second time in the club's history.
Ajman, with 62 points, are in the second place. Leaders Al Khaleej clinched the Second Division title with 72 points. They will receive the trophy in their last match at home against Diba Fujairah on Friday.
Ittihad Kalba, who are third with 59 points, will hope that Ajman lose to Masafi and Kalba beat Al Hamriya in their last match to be equal on points with Ajman. Each will then have 62 points and enter a playoff to decide who will be the second team to be promoted.
However, it is a dream that Ittihad Kalba may find difficult to achieve because Ajman will not let the chance of earning promotion to next season's professional league slip away easily.
Ali Humaid, the Ittihad Kalba team manager, said they will not give up until the last match of the league on Friday.
"If we win and Masafi also win, we will have a great chance to win promotion through a playoff. If not, our young team will have a good experience for the coming season," said Humaid.
In the 29th stage held last week, reigning champions Al Khaleej defeated Al Orouba 3-2, Ajman beat Al Zaid 4-0, Ittihad Kalba crushed Diba Al Hesn 6-3, though that was not enough for them to earn promotion. Bani Yas beat Al Arabi 2-0, Al Hamriya beat Diba Fujairah 6-1. Fujairah beat Ras Al Khaimah 4-1, Al Jazira Al Hamra beat Masafi 2-1 and Dubai beat Al Rams 2-1.
Fixtures
Final stage: May 9: Kickoff at 6 pm: Al Khaleej v Diba Fujairah, RAK v Bani Yas, Ajman v Masafi, Al Hamriya v Ittihad Kalba, Jaz. Al Hamra v Al Orouba, Diba Al Hesn v Al Rams, Dubai v Fujairah and Al Arabi v Al Zaid.
