Al Ain Squad Heads to Austria Via A Private Jet.. Al Sahbani Hails the Players’ Commitment and Will power During Home Camp
Abdul Rahman Meziane and Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba to join the team within 48 Hours
Al Ain Plays Against Saudi Arabia’s Al Fattah and Ittifaq in Second Stage
Leko Reviews and Amends the Schedule of the Camp and Friendly Matches
The delegation of the first and reserved teams left at 03:00 p.m. to Austria on a private jet. H.E. Dr. Matar Rashid Al Darmaki, Chairman of Al Ain Football Club Company, Khaled Abdulla Hasan Hamarain Aldhaheri Deputy Chairman of Al Ain Football Club Company Board, Matar Ghumran Obaid Matar Aldhaheri Al Ain Football Club Company Board Member, Salem Mohammed Humaid Salem Aljneibi Al Ain Football Club Company Board Member and Majid Hamad Abdalla Sultan Alowais Al Ain Football Club Company Board Member bid farewell to the members of the delegation at the Al Ain International Airport.
Matar Obeid Al Dhaheri, Team Manager, hailed the efforts exerted by the Board of Directors of the Al Ain Football Club Company, chaired by H.E. Dr. Matar Rashid Al Darmaki, who was keen to attend the team’s first training session of the home camp and holding an important meeting with the players and coaching team in the changing room during which he addressed important motivational messages and confirmed his confidence in the team’s players and coaching teams to achieve the goals of the translate the confidence and support of the club’s leadership and fans into real achievements on the ground.
Al Sahbani praised the determination and commitment of the Boss’ players during the first phase of the pre-season preparation program held at home which included conducting medical tests prior being involved in the training sessions.
He added: “Although the head coach gave the international players as well as a number of injured people who undergo rehabilitation programs permission not to attend the first training sessions, they insist to attend in the first day to congratulate their new colleagues on joining the Boss squad. It was a wonderful family scene that ensures the desire of all of them to translate the confidence and the unlimited support of the club’s leadership into strong and positive results during the local and continental championships.”
In response to a question on the details of the program of the away camp, he stated: “Croatia’s Ivan Leko has recommended minor modifications. The program is divided now into two phases as per the head coach’s recommendations. The first phase will be in Austria during 18-28 July and and the second phase will be in Slovenia from 28 July 28 to 13 August. The coach also decided to reduce the number of friendly matches from six to five confrontations so that the international players participate in all the team’s matches scheduled to be played during the camp. He also preferred to play against the Gulf teams based on his belief it is better to play against clubs close to the level of Al Ain FC, particularly those the team plays against in the league and AFC Champions League.”
“It was decided to cancel the first game scheduled to be held as per the program of the camp based on the head coach’s recommendation. The Boss will kick off the first friendly match by playing against Macedonian Vardar FC of the first division on 27th July during the first phase. The second match will be kicked off by playing against Saudi Arabia’s Al Fattah FC on 30 July in Slovenia as part of the second phase, then plays against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittifaq FC on 4th August. On 7th August, the team will play Croatia’s Istra FC of the Croatian Premier League. The last confrontation will be determined later on and the head coach will identify the name of the Croatian team and will be played on 11 or 12 August,” Al Sahbani said.
Commenting on a question on the players who were chosen by the coach for the away pre-season summer camp, he said that the first football team included 20 players: Ismail Ahmed, Mohamed Jamal, Mohamed Hilal, Mohamed Abdel Rahman, Jamal Marouf, Mohannad Salem El Enezi, Mohamed Said Bu Senda, Mohamed Ahmed, Hamad Al Mansouri, Ali Al Hayazani, Mohammed Fayez, Mohammed Khalfan, Salim Abdullah, Yahya Nader, Mohsen Abdullah, Mohammed Ahmed Ba Salib, Caio Canedo, and Tsukasa Shiotani.
As for the Reserved Team, it includes 22 players: Mohammed Khalid Al Muhairi, Ali Saeed Al Bloushi, Saud Al Abri, Abdullah Samir, Suhail Khamis, Zayed Khaled, Ali Ahmed Al Shamesi, Saif Antar, Saud Al Mehri, Nasser Khaled Al Miqbali, Mansour Khalifa Al Yahiai, Hamad Khalfan Al Hassani, Abdullah Al Ameri, Khalid Al Bloushi, Nasser Ali Al Shkaily, Fahad Al Ghaithi, Khaled Waleed Salem, Mohammed Yousuf, Hazem Fayez Mhanayia, Mohammed Iyad, and Abdullah Mazen.
Al Sahbani confirmed that eight players will join the Austria’s summer camp on 23 July, namely: Khalid Issa, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Rayan Yaslam, Ahmed Barman and Mohammed Shaker, as well as the players of the UAE Olympic Football Team: Saeed Jumaa, Falah Waleed and Khaled Al Bloushi.
He concluded his statement commenting on a question on reasons why Laba and Meziane did not leave with the team by saying: “The two players did not accompany their teammates due to official travel procedures and they will both join the team within 48 hours.”
