Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu hoping to present positive image of UAE football

Romanian relishing his side’s historic showdown with Al Jazira in Cairo on Tuesday

Image Credit: Gulf News

Cosmin Olaroiu

Abu Dhabi: Al Ahli coach, Cosmin Olaroiu, hopes Tuesday evening’s historic Arabian Gulf Super Cup clash with Al Jazira in Cairo will showcase the very best of UAE football.

The traditional curtain-raiser to the new football season in the Emirates is being played overseas for the first time since its inception in the professional era in 2008.

It pits together the Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli and the President’s Cup winners Al Jazira at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, and Olaroiu warmly welcomes the decision to host the encounter abroad.

“We are happy to be in Egypt for this game and I hope it will be an opportunity to reflect positively on UAE football,” the Romanian said at his pre-match press conference. “Al Jazira is a strong team with a lot of support and the game will not be easy, but I believe we are prepared and we have the determination and mentality to win. Both teams want to return to the UAE with the Super Cup title and overall I also hope to see a good performance and a good spectacle on the pitch for the fans and the reputation of our game.”

He went on to say that last week’s international break, which robbed both teams of their UAE national team players, had not unduly affected his side.

“Of course, it is not ideal that we just got our players back from the international break two days ago, but the wonderful thing about Al Ahli and our team is that we have been together as the main elements of this group for three years now, so the players know how to play together and how I want them to play,” he said.

Olaroiu will be without his injured UAE stars Abdul Aziz Sanquor and Majid Hassan for the game, which kicks off at 9.15pm UAE time, but is relishing his new loan signing Asamoah Gyan’s partnership in attack with the Brazilian Lima.

Gyan scored on his first appearance for the Red Knights last week in a 5-1 annihilation of his old club Al Ain, from where he moved to Shanghai SIPG in the summer of 2015.

“Gyan has been working hard on a specific training programme to get him up to speed with the team and help him to click playing up front with Lima, and both of them have great goalscoring instincts,” Olaroiu said. “I am just sad that Majid Hassan will not be ready to play this match but we can compensate for any absence whenever we have to.”

The 33-year-old Lima is also eagerly anticipating the showdown and expects a “tough” game.

“At the moment, this is a good opportunity for players to transfer a positive image of UAE football to foreign countries as this game is being played abroad. The players are more than willing to provide a good level for this match and possess the determination required in such games.

“I have been very happy to see the welcome given to us by the Egyptian people. The team has felt this ever since our arrival at the Cairo airport.

“We will now work seriously in order to win and satisfy our ambitions as players.”

The game will also provide Lima with another chance to prove his fitness after a long-term knee injury.

The €7 million (Dh28.4m) buy from Benfica had scored 19 times in 26 appearances before being sidelined for several months last December.

Meanwhile, Olaroiu shrugged off concerns about the state of the pitch at the 30 June Stadium.

“It is not in excellent condition but this is no excuse. Both teams will be playing on the same field and we are accustomed to dealing with different surfaces away from home after playing in the AFC Champions League.”

AL AHLI AND AL JAZIRA: SUPER CUP TRACK RECORD

AL AHLI

Al Ahli have featured in the Arabian Gulf Super Cup on a total of four occasions since the professional era began in the UAE, winning the competition for the first time in 2008/09 after seeing off Al Shabab at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. The following season, Al Ahli were Super Cup runners-up as they suffered a 7-5 penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Al Ain, but in 2013/14 gained revenge over the same opponents by beating the Boss 3-2 at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. In 2014/15, Al Ahli faced Al Ain once again, winning the Super Cup for the third time and a victory in this season’s showdown would put the Red Knights ahead of Al Ain as the most-crowned Super Cup champions.

AL JAZIRA

Al Jazira have previously appeared in two Super Cup clashes, but have never lifted the trophy. They lost to capital rivals Al Wahda at the start of the 2011/12 season following a 9-8 penalty shoot-out defeat. In 2012/13, The Pride of Abu Dhabi were again unsuccessful with their penalties, being defeated 5-4 by Al Ain.