Wonder Why UAEFA Insists to Call Al Ain Player This Time of Our Camp.. Zoran: Arab Club Champions Cup is not a Main Target for Al Ain This Season
In the pre-match press conference of the match of Round 32 of Arab Club Champions Cup held in conference hall attached to Maksimir Stadium, Zoran Mamic stressed that everything is going as planned and the players are working hard. He pointed out certain difficulties facing the team which he summarized by saying: “We had some problems with injuries of very important players like Rayan, Ajab and Mohannad, EL Shahat joined us only a couple of days ago so he skipped entire first part due to procedural issues. We are facing certain problems, but the atmosphere of the camp is positive and very good.”
On the team’s preparations for the coming two matches against ES Sétif, he stated: “Honestly, we have not planned to play Round 32 of the Arab Club Champions Cup. Like I said before, we certainly didn’t plan to play the match with the squad we are supposed to play with because we have several important players who will be unavailable or not fit. Second leg will be almost impossible for us to gather up 15 players because 8 national team players are leaving to the camp, 3 Olympic team players too and several of our players can’t play because of procedural issues. All together around 20 players won’t play so we will be in a lot of trouble in the second leg. Especially against a good side like ES Sétif.”
He added: “I must say that the timing of the game is really strange, in the middle of preseason while our opponents played two games of the Champions league in the last two weeks. I don’t think that is normal or fair, but we will try to do our best. We are certainly not timing our team to be in the best shape in July or August. We have a long season in front of us and if we have our peak in August by March or April next year – we are “dead”. We respect this competition, but it is not our main target.”
On his former club’s preparations and assistance they provided to Al Ain FC, he stated: “I started my playing career here as a kid, came back to Dinamo to finish it, then was the sports director and in the end a coach so I really can’t imagine my life without Dinamo Zagreb.” He went on to say: “All the people in Dinamo have been nothing but extremely helpful, providing us with absolutely everything we need and want. The bus for the players, pitches to train and play and everything else. I can only say thank you in the name of Al Ain and hope this cooperation goes forward.”
He expressed his wonder and raises many inquiries on UAEFA recent decisions with regard to the UAE National Football Team camp. He stated: “I have to be honest and say that in my 35 years in football on the top level I have never ever heard about something like this. To take players from their clubs during preseason is not normal whatsoever the circumstances.” He underlined the importance of preseason training camps by saying: “Preseason is crucial to prepare players for a long season that is coming and because we had preseason like we’ve planned last year we didn’t have almost any injury problems later on. In preseason you work hard and then for the rest of the year you enjoy the results of that hard work. Without real preseason training the players will have injuries and both clubs and national team big problems.” He wondered: “I don’t understand how officials of the UAEFA don’t see that… who got this idea of a camp? Where did they see that, and which national team is doing in this way? I don’t want that to happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if several key players miss Asia Cup in January due to injuries.”
He concluded by addressing a message to the loyal Ainawi Nation: “When I came to the club I said I’m used to winning trophies and that is what my staff and me want to do here. And we did it… we won the double for the first time in history in our first real season. I believe in my players, they are always the best for me, but I must say that will as busy schedule as we have this year I feel we don’t have enough players to rotate. We have 7 competitions plus national team players have Asia Cup, so we need a big roster and we have an even smaller one than last year. Obviously, the club decided to give more chance to younger players, so we will do that, I gave them a chance last year too.”
