Latest news with #AlWasl
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Portuguese coach Castro joins Al-Wasl for fresh start in UAE
-Portuguese coach Luis Castro has been given a shot at redemption in Middle Eastern football after former United Arab Emirates champions Al-Wasl appointed him for the upcoming season months after his high-profile exit from Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Castro, 63, departed the Saudi team in September following a title near-miss. Even with Ronaldo claiming the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot during his tenure, Castro's inability to deliver the championship ultimately cost him his position in Riyadh. "Al-Wasl officially signed the Portuguese coach Luis Castro to lead 'the Emperor' in the upcoming competitions," the Dubai club announced on social media, welcoming him to their Zabeel headquarters. He replaces Serbian Milos Milojevic, who was dismissed after Al-Wasl finished only fourth in the league to miss out on the Asian Champions League Elite. The well-travelled Castro, whose coaching career includes stints at Qatar's Al Duhail, Brazil's Botafogo and Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, now faces the challenge of elevating Al-Wasl from AFC Champions League Two contenders back to the UAE summit.
The National
2 days ago
- General
- The National
History beckons for UAE as Cosmin Olaroiu arrives with World Cup qualification teasingly close
In a region where football fans are so highly skilled at tifos, the one Sharjah's fans made to see off their coach in his last match was pleasingly rudimentary. Not for them the elaborate choreographies of the giant Saudi Arabian clubs, or even their UAE Pro League counterparts – and visitors on the last day of the season – Al Wasl. Instead, they went for the tried and trusted option of some black emulsion on a big white sheet. It was the thought that counted, though, and the language used. ' Ai parasit echipa, dar alintrat in istorie,' Sharjah's fans had written, using the manager's mother tongue of Romanian. Translated, it means: You left the team but you made history. He certainly did that. Cosmin Olaroiu capped a trophy laden stint at the club by taking them to the AFC Champions League Two title in Singapore in May. That made them just the second club from the UAE – after two-time Champions League winners Al Ain – to lift a major continental title. A little over two weeks later, Olaroiu is on the brink of history again, and he has not even taken charge of his new side yet. Once the powers-that-be had decided to dismiss Paulo Bento as coach of the UAE national team back in March, there only ever felt like one viable option. Bento's side had just kept alive their chances of automatic World Cup qualification at the very last in Riyadh. But Sultan Adil's late, late stoppage time winner over North Korea still failed to save the Portuguese coach's job. The following morning, it was announced he was gone, despite there just being two matches left in this phase of Asian qualifying. The UAE trail second-placed Uzbekistan, who they face at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, by four points, with six still to play for. Win, and they would need to better whatever result the Uzbeks achieve at home to Qatar on Tuesday when they face Kyrgyzstan at the same time to qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup. Clearly, the odds are against the national team. Given the situation they are in, the next man in after Bento needed to be the ultimate alpha. All of which meant it could only be Olaroiu. The hard-faced, no nonsense, serial winner believes it can be done. Which means everyone else must, too. 'They have to,' Olaroiu said. 'They have to be positive, and they have to believe. If you don't believe, you don't have any chance. 'Now we have this new journey, and when we go there everybody in this team should believe in it. They should believe they can make the dream of this nation come true. 'I think it is one of the countries of the world with one of the biggest improvements and developments in the last [few] years. We should keep pace also in football. This is our mission.' The can-do attitude marks quite the contrast to the final throes of the Bento regime. Back in March, it felt as though the former Portugal manager had been fighting vainly for appreciation, after a downturn in performances. 'We hope to have a different atmosphere in June because I think that is a good way to show the country supports the team with acts and not just words,' Bento said after the win against North Korea, just hours before he was officially axed. Now June has arrived, and the atmosphere is entirely different. The UAE FA have flooded their social media feeds with upbeat slogans. They have hired advertising space on billboards on major roads and in shopping malls. All the domestic clubs have joined the mission with goodwill gestures. And, with it being the Eid holiday weekend, Thursday is likely to be frenzied at the Al Nahyan Stadium. Olaroiu, for his part, has had less than two weeks with his new charges. It means if he is to bring about success immediately, he will have to rely more on the power of personality than granular planning. He may know the six-man cohort of Sharjah players in the squad the best, but his expertise is not limited to them. Olaroiu has brought trophies to three UAE clubs in the past: Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli and Sharjah. 'It is not about only Sharjah players, it is about all the players,' Olaroiu said. 'They are players who have value and players who have quality. I think they will come with the hope and belief they can do it.' Olaroiu has been recruited on a two-year contract. The national team are guaranteed a place in October's six-team repechage tournament, which for sides who miss out on a top two place in this phase of Asian qualifying. One significant feature of his successes at domestic level was the tight bond he created with his players. A notable example of that came in the aftermath of Sharjah's 2-1 win over Lion City Sailors in the Champions League Two final in Singapore. While his players celebrated, Olaroiu tenderly looked after the two young sons of Caio Lucas, the striker who will likely be his talisman at national team level, too. Whether Olaroiu can strike up such a deep affection with his new players and their families when – because of the nature of the job – he sees them so much less remains to be seen. But Lucas is optimistic it can be done. 'We have to be like a family,' Lucas said. 'It doesn't matter how, but we have to do our best inside the pitch to make our fans happy. 'Whenever we go inside the pitch it is to win, and this will be no different. When we speak about the national team, the coach [has] the best players in the league. 'I think we have a chance to qualify and we are going there to do our best and make our fans happy.'
Gulf Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sharjah end season in style with victory over Al Wasl, Al Wahda and Al Orooba win
Sharjah wrapped up their ADNOC Pro League campaign on a high note, delivering a commanding second-half performance to secure a 4-1 win over Al Wasl at the Sharjah Stadium on Sunday evening. The result not only showcased their attacking prowess but also ensured a strong finish to the season, cementing second place in the standings with 51 points. Al Wasl, meanwhile, concluded their campaign in fourth place with 46 points. The first half offered little in the way of action, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. Defensive discipline dominated the opening 45 minutes, leading to a goalless stalemate at the break. However, the second half painted an entirely different picture. Sharjah returned to the pitch with renewed energy and intent, and it didn't take long for them to make their mark. In the 53rd minute, they broke the deadlock through a confidently taken penalty, expertly dispatched into the top-right corner beyond the reach of Al Wasl's goalkeeper. Just three minutes later, the lead was doubled. Lucas produced a moment of brilliance, firing a thunderous first-time half-volley into the back of the net, leaving the defense stunned and the crowd roaring. Sharjah continued their relentless assault and found a third goal in the 65th minute. Luan Pereira capitalized on a defensive error, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-0. Al Wasl managed to pull one back in the 68th minute, albeit through an unfortunate own goal. In attempting to intercept Rodrigo Oliveira's low cross, Shaheen Abdalla accidentally deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper, giving his side a glimmer of hope. But any chances of a comeback were dashed in the 83rd minute when Ousmane Camara sealed the win in style. After collecting the ball, he made a sharp cut inside the box and coolly slotted it between the legs of the goalkeeper, restoring Sharjah's three-goal cushion and securing all three points. Al Wahda down Al Bataeh: Al Wahda concluded their campaign in style, securing a convincing 3-1 victory over Al Bataeh at the Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium on Sunday. The win ensured that the Abu Dhabi-based club finished the season in third place with 48 points, capping off a solid performance throughout the league campaign. Meanwhile, Al Bataeh concluded their season in 11th place, having accumulated 27 points. The match got off to a lively start, with Al Wahda asserting their dominance early. Iranian midfielder Ahmad Noorollah opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area. The goal was made possible by a moment of brilliance from Syrian forward Omar Khribin, who delivered an exquisite backheeled pass to set up Noorollah's finish. Khribin, who had already impressed with his creative play, soon found his name on the scoresheet as well. In the 19th minute, he coolly converted from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to double Al Wahda's lead and underline his influential role in the contest. Al Bataeh responded swiftly, managing to pull one back just four minutes later. Brazilian forward Alvaro de Oliveira latched onto a precise cross from Uzbek midfielder Azizjon Ganiev and struck a crisp first-time half-volley into the top-left corner, giving his side a glimmer of hope. However, Al Wahda restored their two-goal cushion just before halftime. Noorollah was once again at the right place at the right time, pouncing on a loose rebound inside the six-yard box and slotting it to complete his brace in the 43rd minute. Despite some second-half efforts from both sides, the scoreline remained unchanged, and Al Wahda walked away with all three points and a strong finish to their league's journey. Al Orooba closed out their season with a 2-1 away win over Dibba Al Hisn at the Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi Stadium in the final matchweek of the campaign. Players of Sharjah celebrate after their win over Al Wasl in the ADNOC Pro League match at the Sharjah Stadium on Sunday.
Sharjah 24
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah defeats Al Wasl in ADNOC Pro League season finale
Sharjah finishes second in the League With this win, Sharjah secured second place in the league standings with 51 points, while Al Wasl finished fourth with 46 points. Al Wasl qualifies for AFC Champions League 2 Despite the loss, Al Wasl qualified to represent the UAE in the AFC Champions League 2 next season, securing a spot due to their overall league position. Goal scorers lead Sharjah to victory Sharjah's goals came from Caio Lucas (53rd and 56th minutes), Luan Pereira (65th minute), and Osman Camara (83rd minute). Al Wasl's lone goal came from an own goal by Sharjah defender Shaheen Abdulrahman.
Sharjah 24
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
APL round 24 focuses on AFC Champions League qualification
High stakes for AFC Champions League spots The 24th round, starting tomorrow and played over two days, will witness fierce clashes among top-ranking teams vying for spots in next season's AFC Champions League. Shabab Al Ahli has already secured both the league and cup titles, leaving second place as the key qualifying position. At the bottom of the table, teams are also battling to avoid relegation alongside Al Orouba, who are already confirmed to drop to the First Division. Sharjah vs. Al Ain: Key clash for second place The round kicks off with a top-tier clash between second-place Sharjah (45 points) and fifth-place Al Ain (37 points) at Sharjah Stadium. Sharjah, still recovering from their loss in the President's Cup final, aim to solidify their hold on second place and secure AFC qualification. Al Ain coach Vladimir Ivic commented, 'We are not satisfied with our points tally, but we will continue working until the end of the season.' Shabab Al Ahli host Al Nasr in a bid to finish strong On Tuesday, newly crowned champions Shabab Al Ahli will host sixth-placed Al Nasr at Al Maktoum Stadium. Following a loss to Al Wasl, coach Paulo Sousa stressed the importance of maintaining focus. 'We must continue fighting until the final whistle, regardless of winning titles,' Sousa said. 'I am proud of what we have achieved.' Al Wahda aim to solidify third against relegation-threatened Dibba Al Hisn Third-place Al Wahda (41 points) will take on 13th-place Dibba Al Hisn (16 points) at Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Stadium. Dibba Al Hisn are just one point above last place and desperately need a win to avoid relegation. Al Wasl face bottom-club Al Orouba Al Wasl, fourth in the standings with 40 points, will meet bottom-placed Al Orouba (10 points), who are already relegated, in what should be a crucial game for Al Wasl's top-four ambitions. Al Jazira seek late surge against Al Bataeh Seventh-placed Al Jazira (33 points) will face 12th-placed Al Bataeh (24 points) at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Al Jazira are still eyeing a jump into fourth place and potential continental qualification. Bani Yas and Khorfakkan meet in mid-table clash Eleventh-placed Bani Yas (25 points) will host eighth-placed Khor Fakkan (32 points) in a relatively lower-stakes matchup on Monday, with both teams looking to end the season on a strong note. Ajman and Ittihad Kalba wrap up the round Rashid bin Saeed Stadium will host the final match of Round 24 on Tuesday, with tenth-placed Ajman (27 points) taking on ninth-placed Ittihad Kalba (28 points) in a close mid-table encounter.
