ABU DHABI // Al Jazira are looking for a new era of success to dawn upon them. In fact, they have been awaiting it since the departure of Abel Braga, the Brazilian manager who led them to a historic league and President’s Cup double.
Walter Zenga, who on Friday was named the Abu Dhabi club's fifth coach since Braga's exit in the summer of 2011, has said that he wants to emulate the Brazilian's success.
“We need to restart our work, because the team has won only 10 matches in the last 29 games. We need to rewind and find the spirit and the winning attitude again,” the Italian said.
Zenga will be in the dugout for the first time when Jazira meet Dubai tonight, playing at Al Wahda’s Al Nahyan Stadium, since their own pitch is being used for the Fifa Under 17 World Cup.
Of the match, Zenga warned, “If we think we are Jazira and they are Dubai, then we invite trouble. I wouldn’t want the players to have this attitude ahead of any opponent.”
Given his competitive nature, Zenga, will no doubt want to get lay down a marker with a win in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) tonight.
"The only promise I can make is to give 200 per cent of my passion, my pride, my soul, working for Jazira. I can give only my promise about my job, and through the job, we may be able to win," he said. "Every coach has their own style. My style is that we are professional people and we must work morning and evening, if necessary, to achieve our objectives.
“I believe in quality players. If they find the style, the feeling, the spirit of the team, they can do anything. These things you cannot buy from the shops and malls.
“These things need sacrifices. By that, I mean if you have to wake up at five in the morning, you just wake up five in the morning for training.”
Zenga began his new job the day after Jazira were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Dhafra under the Spaniard Luis Milla last Friday.
Zenga assembled the team at 10am on Saturday, which usually would be a day off, considering they had to travel more than 160km after a late game back to Abu Dhabi.
“I have my own style,” he said. “It is normal if one team changes the coach, they have other ideas. But my respect for Milla is bigger because I know our jobs are difficult everywhere.”
When asked how he would handle a team that has gone through four different coaches in two-and-a-half years, he said, “I am a citizen of the world. If you see my CV, I started as a coach in the United States. Then I moved to Romania, Serbia, Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which includes six months in Al Ain.
“I was at Al Nasr for the last two-and-a-half years and continued to live in Dubai, and know a great deal about the teams in the AGL and the players by name. I understand the mentality of the players.”
Zenga said if Jazira are going to win any trophies, it will be down to the players.
“Without them, you cannot do anything,” he said. “I repeat. It is the players who can do the job for me.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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