Al Ain Terminates Croatia’s Ivan Leko Contract Amicably.. Al Darmaki: Al Ain Assigns the New Head Coach in A Week
The Boss Enjoys All the Success Grounds to Achieve the Pre-Set Goals by the End of the Season
Decisions of Al Ain Football Club Company are Based on Well-Established Standards and Clear-Cut Policy
We are part of the Club’s Grassroots, and We Do Not Act Independently from Al Ain Team Lovers
We Lost Many Points Due to Coaching Team Mistakes and Further Reasons
Ghazi Fahd Leads Al Ain First Football Team “Temporarily”
The Board of Directors of Al Ain Football Club Company has officially announced relieving the Croatian head coach of Al Ain First Football Team, Ivan Leko, along with the assistant coaching team from their duties as of today, Saturday 21st December 2019. In the same meeting, the Board members have tasked Ghazi Fahad, head coach of Al Ain U-21 Team, to the lead the team temporarily until assigning a new coaching team.
Dr. Matar Al Darmaki, Chairman of Al Ain Football Club Company, underlined that the decision had been taken based on the reports of the Professionalism Committee following losing many points during the past matches.
“All the decisions taken by the Board members are based on well-established criteria and clear-cut policy under the Club’s strategy and not a reaction to impromptu feedback or handling the situation emotionally,” Al Darmaki stated.
He added: “We do believe that stability and keeping the same coaching team are important factors for all football teams and that changes might lead to negative impact. However, the Board members have been fully convinced that the coaching team was not lucky enough in certain decisions they took during the team’s recent matches. Based on these factors, we have decided to part company with the head coach and the assistant coaching team amicably. The decision has been taken in line with the support and sponsorship of the Club’s leadership offered to the team and based on the high aspirations of Al Ain FC to achieve the desired and pre-set goals and in their quest to make all members of the Club happy by clinching titles by the end of the current season.”
Dr. Al Darmaki hailed the highly appreciated trust of H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Council, First Vice President of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, First Vice President of the Honorary Council & Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, in the Board members. He stated: “We highly value the valuable trust of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the highly appreciated care, generous support and the absolute powers entrusted to us in managing the administrative affairs of the football company and taking the appropriate decisions to achieve the ambitions of the “Boss”. We do assure everybody that we are so committed to turning such invaluable confidence and unlimited support into honorable results in the upcoming stage.”
On the recent feedback and reactions of the loyal fans via all different social media platforms, Dr. Al Darmaki pointed out: “We were tasked to fulfill certain duties during the past and current period. I have also to stress that we are Ainawi fans, and we do not act independently. We were monitoring the fans’ concerns and their feedback and tried our best to provide full support to the coaching team during the past period to correct certain technical issues facing the team based on the Al Ain Club work mechanism that operates according to sound and clear systems and not certain persons.”
“We were observing and listening to strident criticism urging us to take certain decisions or tackle issues we are facing publicly through the various means of media and many other requests,” Al Darmaki commented on the types of criticism they were exposed to.
While responding to critiques, Al Darmaki pointed out that the management of the Club values all opinions and assessments, but they have an action plan to be accomplished within a set timeframe.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chairman pinpointed the significant role played by the loyal Ainawi fans since the establishment of the Club by saying: “The most prominent and critical factor of the Club successes is the Ainawi Nation who support the “Boss” because they are simply in love with its the logo and not specific stars or certain figures of the Club’s administrative or coaching teams. We are fully aware that others are jealous as we have such remarkable and effective grassroots who have a weighty influence on the squad’s performance and results. I do not doubt that we have kicked off our season while lacking one of the most critical factors of success and player No. 1 in the team lineup, i.e., the Ainawi fans.”
“I do not believe that dissatisfaction with the performance of the coaching or administrative teams is a sufficient reason to lose one of the most important factors in the team’s remarkable achievements.”
Dr. Al Darmaki stressed that they are committed to taking the fans’ viewpoints and interactions into consideration. “However, we do need our great fans to be behind the team in the standings of the stadium rather than sending critique messages. When the challenge requires the fans’ support, the winner will definitely be the Club itself. We had a thrilling experience in the FIFA Club World Cup- UAE 2018 when the Boss achieved honorable results and had new historical records when they turned the table in their first match and scored the fastest goal ever in the competition and many other unprecedented distinguished achievements registered under the name of the “Global Boss”. We will work hard to take advantage of the prior period and invest in improvement opportunities to be back to the crowning podiums by the end of this season.”
“I believe that we still have the chance to compete to win the titles of all this season competitions and meet the aspirations of the Ainawi fans.”
On the name of the new head coach, Al Darmaki said that processes are underway, and the Professionalism Committee has several proposed names who will be identified within a week. “We are so keen to have a new head coach with a remarkable and reputable head coach with a significant record. Al Ain experienced similar conditions when the relieved Kiki and Fossati, but with the cooperation of everyone and the support of the fans, the Club achieved all its goals.”
He also shed the light on reasons behind losing the points: “We agree that the technical problems we have faced recently resulted in losing points. Yet, the critique made by the fans through their posts in social media and poor attendance to the matches are one of the significant factors to lose the recent games.
“We would like to emphasize the importance of the role the fans in boosting up the team’s aspirations. Also, we have open doors to exchange viewpoints with fans via social media platforms directly, and we are always available in our offices,” Al Darmaki pointed out.
He signed off: “I have to stress that we have no barriers between the Club and the fans as we are one Club from one city. We understand that social media offer all users open spaces to express their opinions in different subjects though they do not represent the concept of direct communication among one family.”
