Dubai: Sharjah Club hope to build on their creditable finish last season when the new domestic calendar gets underway on the last day of August.
Sharjah’s coach Abdul Aziz Al Anbari, who guided his side last season, unveiled six new faces, including a couple of foreign professionals as the team eyed a build-up on their success. Sharjah will play away against Al Dhafra in their opening round of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) opener on August 30.
Al Anbari, who used to be at the heart of the national side’s midfield in his playing days, has recruited 25-year-old Brazilian Igor Coronado from Palermo, Italy and secured the services of Cape Verde’s 28-year-old winger Ryan Mendez from Turkish club Kayserispor. The new players will join Brazil’s Wellinton Soares and Uzbek midfielder Otabek Shukurov to complete the permitted four foreigners allowed by the Pro League Committee.
Al Anbari has also done well to bring in some Emirati players while signing a couple from Al Wahda and one each from defending champions Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club. Former UAE star Mohammad Al Sheh’hi and Mohammad Al Daheri have agreed on terms to depart from Al Wahda, while Fawzi Faiz — one of the UAE players from Mahdi Ali’s golden generation that qualified for the 2012 London Olympics — will depart from Al Ain. Also seeking a homecoming of sorts is Majid Mohsin, son of UAE goalkeeping legend Mohsin Mussabah, as he makes the short trip from Shabab Al Ahli Dubai.
“The focus was to put together a squad that is capable of challenging for the league title,” Al Anbari told Gulf News after the unveiling of the players.
“Traditionally, Sharjah has been known for tapping promising talent, and one look at the current squad will ensure we stick to the basics and put up some strong displays against teams that may look much stronger than ours. Of course, a lot depends on the luck factor, but I am confident we can make a difference and win some trophies during the season,” he added.
Sharjah last won the league way back at the end of the 1995-’96 season. “It has been a long time no doubt, but with a squad like this we can look ahead confidently,” Al Anbari said.
The spotlight, however, was on Coronado who scored nine goals in his 42 appearances for Serie B side Palermo. “I want to do my best here. This club has ambitions that are similar to mine. I have been here for a few days now and I am being made to feel at home by everyone. This gives me a sense of comfort that can help me achieves these goals,” Coronado said.
