Sparky’s Column

Shocks and Statistics

The Etisalat Cup Final was an amazing experience courtesy of unfashionable Ajman. Once I saw Al Jazira's first goal hit the back of the net I feared it was going to be a rout. It's well documented Ajman have nothing in the way of resources on or off the pitch compared to their rivals from the capital but the simple fact is that once it's 11 v 11, anything can happen. That anything was an equaliser from Founeke Sy, a player who has spent his entire career in Mali and Iran until now. He has barely been on the football map until his overhead bicycle-kick moment, but what a way to announce yourself to the masses. Boris Kabi provided the winner as early as the 33rd minute, followed by Ajman holding their nerve for another 52 minutes to raise their first trophy in 29 years. The comparison of the team's performance to Wigan at the weekend in the English FA Cup final is inevitable. The team from a small North West English town overcame Manchester City in the shock of shocks.  The difference here in the UAE is that Ajman are not staring relegation in the face so it's a great result on top of another season in the Pro League.

The bottom of the table looks all but decided,  Al Shaab will have to collapse in the final two matches if they are to go down. The first is a home fixture with Al Wasl who have little to play for but they do have a coach that is trying to prove his credentials for the job to motivate the side. The final game is against Al Shabab who depending on Champions League results could have a weakened team out. The other team staring into the abyss are Dibba Al Fujairah; first up they have an away match at an already-relegated Kalba. The question is: do Dibba face a team free from pressure or team demotivated with nothing to play for? The last game is against Ajman; who I would imagine will still celebrating by the time the 25th May comes around. Dibba look to have the easier fixtures but have to rely on Shaab slipping up not once but twice. All that said, I just get a feeling that the season will have a twist or turn before the 25th May.

Liam Weekes, the Performance Analysis Director at Al Ain, has been mentioned a number of times in this column. He is innovative in his work but also very forthcoming with how he does his job. This week he offered his Pro Zone data on Esteghlal of Iran to Al Shabab, prior to the Champions League match.  Al Ain had played them twice and had a plethora if information on the Iranians. This has been shared with Al Shabab as they try to progress to the quarter finals. If they do,  it will be a team effort on behalf of the Pro League.