Dubai: Following the past two barren seasons, former champions Al Ain have made loud and clear their intentions for domestic silverware when action gets under way from the first week of September this campaign.
Poised for kick-starting their golden jubilee celebrations in 2018, The Boss will have their eyes set on a winning start as they host Hatta in their opening preliminary round match of the Arabian Gulf Cup on September 4. The match will be the only one held in advance as Al Ain will be involved in their second quarter-final of the AFC Champions League against Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia on September 11.
Al Ain hold the UAE record for winning the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) a record 12 times with their last triumph coming at the end of the 2014-15 season. They fancied their chances at continental level but fell short at home in the final when they lost 3-2 on aggregate to South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2016.
Now, denied for too long, Al Ain have re-set their priorities. “At Al Ain, we are always looking for the top position whenever we play. That has been one consistent goal for us since the time we were founded in 1968. We want a good season,” Abdullah Ali, Administrator, Al Ain Club, told Gulf News after the draw ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup and Arabian Gulf League were held on Thursday.
“We didn’t achieve our goals during the last two seasons and this has only given us a fresh resolve to do better this year. We believe it is our time to be winning, both in the UAE and at the Asian level,” he added.
The UAE football season will officially get under way with the opening round of the Arabian Gulf Cup on September 8-9. This will be followed by the Arabian Gulf Super Cup between AGL champions Al Jazira and President’s Cup winners Al Wahda on September 15, while the first round of the AGL will be on September 16.
Much of the attention this year will be on the newly formed Shabab Al Ahli Dubai through the merger of three clubs, Al Shabab, Al Ahli and newly-promoted Dubai Club in the first half of May. Led by Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu, the former Al Ahli boss, the new club will commence their campaign against Al Wahda in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup on September 8-9. Sharjah, Al Wasl, Emirates and Dibba are the other four clubs in Group B, while Group A will consist of Al Jazira, Al Dhafra, Al Ain, Al Nasr, Hatta and new entrants Ajman Club.
The draws were organised by the Pro League Committee (PLC) of the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) in the presence of Abdullah Nasser Al Junaibi, Vice President of UAE FA and Chairman of PLC, along with former players Mohsin Mussabah of Sharjah and Yousuf Uzair of Al Shabab.
“There are going to be no easy matches this year. This league has been evolving and growing into one of the best competitions of Asia. None of them can be taken for granted,” Uzair predicted.
“I am certain that so-called small teams such as Ajman and Hatta will spring a surprise or two this season. None of them can be taken for granted. These teams work within their limitations, but do a fine job when it comes to crunch matches,” Mussabah added.
FIXTURES
Arabian Gulf Cup
Group A: Al Jazira, Al Dhafra, Al Ain, Al Nasr, Hatta, Ajman
Group B: Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Al Wahda, Sharjah, Al Wasl, Emirates, Dibba
Arabian Gulf League
Round One: Shabab Al Ahli Dubai x Hatta; Al Wahda x Dibba; Sharjah x Al Nasr; Emirates x Al Dhafra; Al Ain x Al Wasl; Al Jazira x Ajman
Round Two: Ajman x Shabab Al Ahli Dubai; Hatta x Al Ain; Al Wasl x Emirates; Al Dhafra x Sharjah; Al Nasr x Al Wahda; Dibba x Al Jazira
Round Three: Emirates x Hatta; Al Ain x Shabab Al Ahli Dubai; Al Jazira x Al Nasr; Al Wahda x Al Dhafra; Sharjah x Al Wasl; Dibba Ajman
Round Four: Ajman x Al Ain; Shabab Al Ahli Dubai x Emirates; Hatta x Sharjah; Al Wasl Al Wahda; Al Dhafra x Al Jazira; Al Nasr x Dibba
Round Five: Al Wahda x Hatta; Sharjah x Shabab Al Ahli Dubai; Emirates x Al Ain; Dibba x Al Dhafra; Al Jazira x Al Wasl; Al Nasr x Ajman
