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Pro League back in action after two-week pause

 

The Etisalat Pro League returns to prominence this weekend as Round 16 is staged across Thursday 14th and Friday 15th February, following a two-week break from League action. However, all teams have been busy during the League hiatus; competing in the Etisalat Cup, qualifying through AFC Champions League play-offs, participating in friendly games, and sending their international stars off for National Team duty. With plenty to play for at the top and bottom of the table, it promises to be a drama-filled two days of league football.

The first game to get underway in Round 16 sees Al Dhafra welcome League leaders Al Ain to the Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium at 5:35pm on Thursday 14th February. Al Dhafra, currently sitting precariously in 11th place with 15 points, may have to be defensively ready for the attacking threat of Asamoah Gyan, as the Black Stars player has now returned to training with Al Ain after finishing fourth in the African Cup of Nations with Ghana. Al Ain, meanwhile, will be glad to welcome the League’s top scorer back into their ranks as they look to extend their 9-point lead over Al Jazira and Bani Yas at the top of the table.

Thursday night’s other game will take Al Jazira to visit Ajman, kicking off at 8pm at the Rashed bin Saeed Stadium. It promises to be a tough tie for the home side, who find themselves 10th in the League on 15 points, as they endeavour to bounce back from a heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Al Ain in Round 15. Al Jazira, currently sitting in 2nd place on 28 points, will be keen to secure a victory to stay as close behind the League leaders as possible.

On Friday 15th February, Al Shaab travel to Dibba Al Fujairah’s home, Fujairah Stadium, for the earliest kick-off of the day at 5:20pm. This is a bottom-of-the-table clash, as Dibba are propping up the League in 14th place with 7 points, and Al Shaab sit 12th with the same points total. Both teams bolstered their squads during the January transfer window, with Al Shaab unveiling five new signings in one go, so they will be hoping for an immediate positive impact from their new players.

In a rescheduled fixture, Al Nasr host Al Shabab at the Al Maktoum Stadium at 5:25pm. The game was due to take place a day earlier, but the decision was made to give both teams an extra day of preparation after their AFC Champions League play-off qualifiers on Saturday 9th, which saw both teams progress to the group stages of the competition. This is set to be a very exciting match, as both teams will be in high spirits from their play-off triumphs, and just two points separate the sides in the League. Al Nasr sit 5th with 25 points, whilst Al Shabab are 6th with 23 points, so a victory for the away side would see them leapfrog their opponents.

At 5:30pm Al Wahda welcome Kalba to the Al Nahyan Stadium, with the visitors currently languishing in 13th place on 7 points and fighting for their lives in the League, whilst Al Wahda sit 8th with a current points total of 18. Al Wahda midfielder Tawfeeq Al Hosani is likely to miss out through injury, but the home side will be glad to welcome back their UAE National Team trio of Ismaeil Matar, Hamdan Al Kamali and Saeed Al Kathiri.

The first of Friday’s 8pm kick-offs sees Bani Yas take on Dubai at the Baniyas Stadium, and Bani Yas’ new star signings will be eager to make an impression in front of their home crowd. Dubai, who find themselves in 7th place on 19 points, will be wary of the threat of Bani Yas’ January additions; namely Egyptian striker Mohamed Aboutrika and Sweden international Christian Wilhelmsson. Bani Yas are 3rd in the table with the same points total as second-placed Al Jazira – 28 – so they will be looking to stay in touching distance of the top.

Completing the round, Al Ahli host near-neighbours Al Wasl at the Rashid Stadium in the second 8 o’clock kick-off of the day. This Dubai derby is set to be a thrilling tie, as Al Ahli will hope to regain 3rd place in the standings after slipping to 4th on 27 points in Round 15. Meanwhile, 9th-placed Al Wasl need to improve on their form to add to their current points total of 17, and they will be looking to their three new overseas signings – Brazilian striker Jussie Ferreira, Iraqi defender Ahmed Ibrahim, and Cameroonian midfielder Achille Emana – to inspire a positive change in the team.