Al Sahbani: H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed is the Founder of Al Ain’s Successful Strategy
Matar Obeid AL Daheri “Al Sahbani”, Manager of Al Ain FC First Team, stated that Al Ain FC First Team will set off its preparations for the new football season with the internal camp scheduled to be held on 10th July. He further explained, “The program will include medical check-ups for all the team players including the local international and foreign players, in addition to light training sessions as per the preparatory program set up by the Croatian Head Coach Zoran Mamic who is scheduled to fly back to Al Ain City on 10th July to superintend the first phase of the program with the presence of all members of his technical assistants.”
“The “Boss” is due to leave on 14th July to its external camp in Austria. The team will have morning and evening training sessions besides recovery programs that will be carried out during the daily training sessions in the health club attached to the team’s residence which is equipped with up-to-date equipment designated for fitness programs, swimming, Jacuzzi and other programs,” added Al Sahbani.
He confirmed that during the external camp Al Ain FC will play five strong friendly confrontations against European and Saudi teams on 20, 26 and 31 July and on 7th and 11th August. He stated, “Following the last friendly match, the whole delegation will fly back to UAE arrive early morning of 12th August to commence the team’s third phase of its preparatory program for the season, which is scheduled to start on 14th August. This last phase will include playing a friendly match prior playing the first leg match of the AFC Champions League quarter-final.”
Commenting on a question on the challenges awaiting Al Ain FC in the new coming season at the local and continental levels, Al Sahbani said, “Absolutely, the new season is full of local and continental challenges and the Head Coach setup his preparatory plans in line with them. Al Ain will inaugurate its season so early with a strong confrontation against the champions of the Saudi League. Indeed, Al Ain is required to prevail at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in this coming match prior leaving to Riyadh to play the second leg match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.”
In response to a question on the AFC’s attention-grabbing reports on Al Ain FC, he said: “This is certainly due to the successful strategy laid out by His Highness Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the First Vice President of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, the First Vice President of Honorary Board and Chairman of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, and the princely care and substantial support provided by His Highness Sheikh Hazza to the club which surely contributed to put Al Ain FC all the times on the right track.”
He added, “I believe that the selection of the AFC of Al Ain FC has not come out of nothing but it was based on statistical processes related to the team’s performance during the AFC Champions League as the team was able to play in the final match of the competition three times.” He pointed out, “As a result, Al Ain earned its stunning reputation and is famous for its strong personality, besides becoming the nightmare of other opponents and the giant of the continent as well as the real “Boss” whom other clubs avoid confronting them.”
“Al Ain players have gained the required experience in the continental confrontations and have the strong desire to translate the matchless sponsorship of their highness the Sheiks to fulfill their personal ambitions and make Al Ain and UAE fans happy by snatching the new continental title that emphasizes the respectable standing of the Emirati football, and I do wish all the success to the team in winning the title of the AFC Champions League 2017,” Al Sahbani said.
As for the AFC’s commendation of Al Ain FC Captain, Omar Abdul Rahman, he pointed out, “Indeed, Omar Abdul Rahman is a superior and quality football player who is always capable of making the difference with the team; it is not easy for a football player to become number one player in Asia. This emphasizes the fact that he owns a high level mentality of professionalism and a leadership charisma.” He added, “We are so proud of Omar and the AFC has the right to be proud of the stardom of Al Ain FC Captain as it has been mentioned in more than one occasion. We are also fortunate to have Omar along with his mates in the team’s list of names and I wish them all best of success.”
Responding to a question regarding losing the chance to play in the AFC Champions League 2018 would exert pressure on the team in the current version of the Asian Championship, he said: “I think that the fact Al Ain is not participating in the next version of the Asian championship is the absolute motive for the team’s players to keep up the strong and decent performance in the current version of the League and winning the title. This is to ensure reserving their seat the FIFA Club World Cup, especially after the return of the injured players and enhancing the lines of the team by the required players.”
As for the injured players who are receiving the medical treatment at the club’s clinic, he said: “Both “international” players, Ismail Ahmed and Khaled Issa, are the last two players joined the rehabilitation program. As you know Ismail underwent a surgery to clean the knee cartilage in Barcelona, Spain, while Khaled Issa enrolled a treatment program to treat the relaxation of the cruciate ligament. The time specified to end the treatment program may not help them to play with the team in the first leg match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal scheduled to be held on 21st August.”
“We addressed a letter to the UAE Football Federation regarding the injury of the “international” player, Khaled Issa, along with the medical reports confirming the immediate engagement of the player in a special rehabilitation program to earn enough time for treatment. Nevertheless, the Federation insisted that player must join the National Team. This happened despite the fact that Al Ain FC and the player himself were so keen to join and play with the National team following the end of the medical treatment. We have already made the required arrangements for him to fly to Barcelona and then to Thailand immediately following meeting the specialist doctor. At any rate, we were surprised by rejecting our request by the UAE Football Federation and that they insisted to let him join the National Team,” said Al Sahbani.
He added, “It is regrettable that we received a letter from the UAE Football Federation following the return of the National Team from Thailand by 48 hours inquiring about the condition of Khaled Issa injury, though we have already provided the concerned with the medical reports clarifying the status of his injury and the urgent need to join a rehabilitation program. On the contrary, we were waiting for a report from the medical staff of the National Team on his injury following the period he spent with the team in Malaysia and Thailand. This resulted in having a very tight schedule of medical treatment to ensure his fitness and be ready on the right time. I hope that he will be fully ready through joining his extensive long treatment programs to avoid any future surgeries.”
“Al Ain’s five players: Fawzi Fayez, Mohammed Fayez, Saeed Al Minhali, Bandar Al Ahbabi and Amer Abdul Rahman will join the team during its external camp as they have already done with their qualification programs and are very close to rejoin the team and participate in its training sessions along with their teammates,” he added.
Regarding the existence of the “international” foreigners in the away camp, he commented, “The lines of the team must be complete during all the stages of preparation, specifically during the away camp.” He went on to say, “I believe that Al Ain FC standing regarding supporting the National Team is clear. This fact is also stressed by H.E. Ghanim Al Hajeri, Chairman of Al Ain Football Club Company. Al Ain has a national mission in the current AFC Champions League. Achieving the success in this championship requires everyone in the team to double their efforts and to be more focused, besides understanding the importance of making the team ready during the preparatory phase and to avoid experiencing the scenario of the last season. More importantly, the new Head Coach of the National Team is well conscious of the potentials of Al Ain players and does not need to be familiar with them in a prolonged camp.”
Replying to a question on Al Ain’s chances in the current AFC Champions League based on the fact that he is the team manager who participated the most in the Asian championship, he said, “Al Ain FC has reached the level of maturity that qualifies them to win the continental title. It is not a secret anyway if I tell you that previously we used to be so keen to motivate the players and explain to them the importance of the stage they are playing in. This does not happen anymore, the players reached the highest level of alertness. It is a fact that opponent teams have their worst nightmares to play against Al Ain at their home prior meeting Al Ain in their away matches. I hope that all the efforts, the players’ potentials and the team’s strong personality will enable the team to regain the continental title.”
As for the new foreign played who have already signed for Al Ain, he stated, “I think the players who recently signed for Al Ain FC will be the added value to the team, especially they have enough information about Al Ain FC and they have the desire to be part of the team’s robust achievements playing to one of the strongest clubs in the Asian continent. Japan’s Tsukasa Shiotani expressed his desire to play together with Amouri and plainly said that there is no player in Japan who does not know Al Ain FC of UAE. Sweden’s Berg whose strong desire to join Al Ain led to conclude his deal smoothly. In this regard, I hope that Berg will harness all his quality offensive capabilities to the best interest of the team and achieving the team’s continental goals. Not to forget the Brazilian Caio Lucas has great ambitions and extraordinary desire to win the dearest Asian title.”
Al Sahbani concluded his press statement by saying, “Personally, I wish to start our local and away camp with all the team’s lines complete, so that the team would be able to achieve the required degree of readiness in the most important stages of preparing the team for its new football season. ”
