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Al Jazira vs Nasaf MD-1 Press Conference

Abu Dhabi defensive champions Al Jazira face their Uzbek rivals Nasaf at Central Stadium in Karshi at 6:30 pm this evening within the Group A stage of the 2012 Asian Champions League competition.

Ruziqul Berdiev who is a former player and assistant coach at Nasaf, Ruziqul Berdiev took over as the head coach in January after Anatoliy Demyanenko returned home to Ukraine. A native of Qashqadaryo province, Berdiev has long been associated with Nasaf, having joined them in their inaugural season in 1997 and played over 300 games for the club during 12 seasons before he retired and took up a coaching role there.

Berdiev assured in the ACL MD-1 press conference that although they are fresh to the competition they have the confidence to end up with the 3 points. “We are familiar with Al Jazira, I know that they are a very tough team and playing against them will not be easy particularly we do not have enough experience in the competition. Yet we will try everything to perform at our best.”

Franky Vercauteren is a former Belgium international winger, he played in the side that reached the semi‐finals of the 1986 World Cup before enjoying much success as a coach in his homeland. The 55‐year‐old led Anderlecht to back‐to‐back Belgian league title in 2006 and 2007 and had a brief spell as caretaker coach of the national team before leading Genk to the league title in 2011. He was appointed by Al Jazira last August.

On his turn Vercauteren assured in the press conference that he is happy to lead Al Jazira for the first time in the ACL competition.” This is the 4th time Al Jazira participate in the ACL competition and my first with them, I know that my team has learned from their previous mistakes and the players are consistent to perform at their best and to come up with great results.”