A major development in UAE football was announced on Tuesday, when Al Ahli, Al Shabab and Dubai Club merged to form Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club.
We look at how that new team could shape up for the 2017/18 season as John McAuley postulates on what may yet come. Swipe left/right on your browser.
One force
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, ordered the merger, with the assets and properties of the trio transferred to the single entity with immediate effect. Sheikh Mohammed said: “Our objective is to build a club that can compete regionally and globally.” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, was appointed as chairman.
New home
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club will be based at Dubai Club’s site in Al Awir, although the facilities will be revamped to “meet international standards to ensure their readiness to host training sessions and competitions”. A new stadium has been planned for that area, with Sheikh Mohammed reviewing the design of the Mohammed bin Rashid Stadium, a Dh3 billion project, in May last year.
Leading the team
Cosmin Olaroiu (pictured) seems the obvious choice to serve as manager. The Romanian has previously managed Al Ain and has been at Ahli since 2013. During his time in the UAE, Olaroiu has won the top-flight title four times and is widely recognised as one of the best managers in Asia. Intriguingly, Serbian Goran Tufegdzic had been lined up as Shabab’s new manager before the merger was confirmed.
Foreign line up
The new club should have a strong Ahli influence. Given that, the team’s four foreigners could include Brazilian playmaker Everton Ribeiro and Senegalese striker Makhete Diop (pictured), both from Ahli, with Moldovan forward Henrique Luvannor joining from Shabab. The side would still require an Asian player: could South Korean midfielder Kwon Kyung-won, unused at China’s Tianjin Quanjian, make a return? It would represent an intimidating quartet.
Local players
Ahli were considered to possess the most talented collection of Emirati players in the country, with nine regulars in the national squad, led by striker Ahmed Khalil, although he had been expected to leave for Al Jazira. Add to that nucleus the likes of defenders Mohammed Ayed and Manei Mohammed, and midfielder Hassan Ibrahim (pictured), from Shabab, and the new club would only be stronger.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
