UAE- Al Ahli take on Al Nasr in Presidents Cup showdown
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Al Ahli have won it eight times at the last time of asking and are on the threshold of a record ninth Presidents Cup.
Al Ahli’s Antonio Luis Jimenez vies with a host of Al Dhafra palyers during their President’s Cup semifinal in Al Dhafra. — KT file
Al ain — In the lead up Al Nasr’s Brett Holman had said: “For me it’s a little bit different given that I’m not from here. But if you see how the locals believe in it and how they really see this as the FA Cup of the UAE then you know it is a massive thing it’s important.
The Australian international who has plied his trade for Aston Villa in the English Premiership couldn’t have summed it up any more perfectly. The Arabian Gulf League was done and dusted some time ago and it all comes down to this one — the prestigious President’s Cup.
And after 14 matches two Dubai clubs are left standing with the finish line just in sight. A tantalising final fixture is in prospect as Al Ahli square off against their city rivals Al Nasr on Wednesday night.
And the galaxy of stars on either side will aim to shine on the night under the magnificent Hazza bin Zayed Stadium lights to try and inscribe their name on the Trophy.
Al Ahli have won it eight times at the last time of asking and are on the threshold of a record ninth President’s Cup. The Red Knights have a stellar line-up and could be termed the ‘Galacticos’ of UAE football.
They have a lethal frontline line in Ahmed Khalil the pacy Ismail Al Hammadi and Moroccan international Oussama Assaidi with the former Liverpool and Stoke City man playing a dual role.
The Al Ahli midfield spells quality in Habib Al Fardan Majed Hassan Brazilian international Everton Ribeiro mid-season signing Kwon Kyung Won marshalled by captain Luis Antonio Jimenez.
The defence too is solid with the likes of Abdulaziz Haikal Abdulaziz Sanqour Eisa Santo Walid Abbas and Salmeen Khamis. The last line of defence has goalkeepers Majed Naser and Ahmed ‘Dida’ with the latter called up by UAE coach Mahdi Ali for the training camp prior to the World Cup qualifiers. And in Cosmin Olaroiu they have an astute tactician who has been the most successful manager here in recent times with Al Ain and now Al Ahli.
Al Ahli are in cracking form too coming into this fixture the seeds of which were sown in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 game against fierce rivals Al Ain. Post that they saw off Al Dhafrah in the semifinal of the President’s Cup and here they are now.
The Red Knights who surrendered the League title to Al Ain after an indifferent season have suddenly turned things around and turned a corner so to speak. But it won’t be easy for Al Ahli. The Red Knights come up against an Al Nasr side more than capable of making the President’s Cup their own.
The Blues already have a title to show this season in the Arabian Gulf Cup and while they had a stop-start League campaign Al Nasr can be more than a handful for Al Ahli on the morrow.
Al Nasr dethroned Al Ain at the fag end of the quarterfinal fixture before prevailing over Al Shabab on penalties and they would be now looking to add to their three President’s Cup titles. This could well come down to being a tactical mind game between manager Ivan Jovanovic and his opposite number Olaroiu.
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