DUBAI // Ajman coach Abdulwahab Abdulqadir saluted the impact of the newcomers in his squad after the relegation-battling club ended their 11-match wait for a win with victory over Al Jazira on Friday.
The acquisition of Iraqi defender Ahmed Ibrahim, Ivorian winger Bakari Kone and Emirati midfielder Mohammed Abdulbasit revitalised the side as they upset title-chasing Jazira 1-0.
“Ahmed Ibrahim was wonderful in defence, taking the leadership role in organising the back four,” Abdulqadir said.
“Bakari Kone is a player with great skills and his distribution of the ball is top-class. Abdulbasit also made really good contribution in his first match. Together, with the rest of the team, they helped us end this long wait for a win.”
Abdulqadir used the occasion to take a jibe at Arabian Gulf League clubs who keep sacking their managers and thanked the Ajman management for not following that trend.
Eight of the 14 clubs have changed their managers already, with the last being Baniyas, who fired coach Jorge da Silva last week.
“I would imagine our win over Jazira will be a lesson to those who are impatient for results and sack their coaches to change the course of their teams,” said Abdulqadir, who has held the Ajman job since the start of the 2011/12 season and guided the team to success in the Etisalat Cup last year.
“Yes, we have added good players in the winter transfer window and they played their part in the win, but the real reason for this victory is the patience the Ajman management have shown over the recent period, enduring intense pressure.
“If you look at the teams at the top, they have achieved those results thanks to the stability at the clubs.
“Ajman has also offered a lesson in administrative and technical stability to everyone, despite an extended run of poor results.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
