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Arabian Gulf League – Round One Preview

The first kick of a ball in the 2013/14 Arabian Gulf League will take place at the Zabeel Stadium as Al Wasl host Sharjah at 5:40pm on Saturday 14th September. Laurent Banide will lead Al Wasl in the League for the first time, with two UAE League Cup games already under his belt, but will have to do so without the suspended Mariano Donda who was sent off in the Cup. Al Wasl are buoyed by the return to fitness of long-term injury absentee Rashid Essa, who adds some dynamism in attack. Paulo Bonamigo’s Sharjah side showed what they are capable of with a 3-0 demolishing of Al Jazira in the UAE League Cup last week, and will hope to show the same killer instinct as they kick off their League campaign since winning promotion to the professional ranks.

Kicking off ten minutes later, Al Dhafra host the other newly-promoted side Emirates in a tie that sees two Emirati coaches go head-to-head in the dugout. Dr. Abdullah Misfer has so far seen his Al Dhafra side take two wins from two in the UAE League Cup, and will hope for much of the same in the Arabian Gulf League, whilst Eid Baroot looks for a positive start to the season as Emirates aim to cement their place in the professional league.

Martin Rueda’s Dubai welcome Arabian Gulf Super Cup champions Al Ahli to the Dubai Stadium at 8:30pm on Saturday, as Dubai hope to avoid the relegation battle they almost got sucked into at the end of last season, whilst Al Ahli have one target clear in their sights: taking the Arabian Gulf League title. Also at 8:30pm, Al Nasr will travel to Al Wahda as both clubs enter the new League season with new head coaches and a whole host of summer signings.

On Sunday 15th  at 5:35pm, Al Jazira will begin their Arabian Gulf League campaign with a trip to a new-look Al Shaab, who have made extensive changes to their squad over the summer under head coach Marius Sumudica, who kept them up on the final day of last season. Luis Milla has also made some key summer recruits at Al Jazira as he looks to restore the pride of Abu Dhabi to title-winning glory.

At 8:30pm, Bani Yas make the trip to Ajman to begin their Arabian Gulf League assaults. With both sides having won silverware last season – Ajman in the Cup and Bani Yas in the Gulf Clubs Championship – their League ambitions may be loftier this season. Round One will close with possibly the clash of the round as Al Shabab welcome defending League champions Al Ain to the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium at 8:30pm on Sunday. Marcos Paqueta is one of the League’s more established coaches and he will face newcomer Jorge Fossati, who is tasked with the tough challenge of retaining Al Ain’s League title for the third consecutive season.