The crowning moment for Al Ain comes on Saturday as the Arabian Gulf League champions receive the championship trophy after their final league match of the season, which is against Sharjah at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
The celebration that kicked off last Thursday with various fun and family activities concludes tonight following the presentation of the league title amid a grand fireworks and laser show.
“It is a momentous time for everyone, that the players to the technical staff, the club management and fans alike have been waiting for,” said Sheikh Abdullah Mohammed bin Khalid, chairman of the club’s board of directors.
It is Al Ain’s third league title in four years and comes after the treble they achieved from 2002 to 2004.
They have won the league 12 times, more than any other club since laying their hands on it for the first time during the 1980/81 season.
“This year’s league title should be a catalyst as the club’s aspiration remains to achieve more success this season as we still have the President’s Cup and the Asian Champions League to play for,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
Al Ain will want to celebrate their coronation with a victory over Sharjah, a team that finished just above the relegation zone in 12th place and on 25 points to their 59.
The next challenges for Al Ain are their President’s Cup opener next Friday against Dibba Al Fujairah, who return to the top flight after edging out Al Shaab by three points to win the Division 1 title.
Al Ain meet arch rivals Al Ahli in Dubai five days later in the first leg of their Asian Champions League last-16 tie, with the second leg in Al Ain on May 27.
Elsewhere in the AGL, Fujairah closed out their first season back in the top flight with a 1-0 victory at relegated Ajman. Boubacar Sanogo provided the winning touch, heading Hassan Maatouk’s cross past Ajman goalkeeper Jaber Jasim.
Fujairah, who were promoted from Division 1 with Kalba, finish the season in ninth place on 32 points despite a minus-22 goal difference. Ajman finish 13th on 15 points, dropping into Division 1 after four seasons in the top flight.
Kalba, meanwhile, lost 3-0 at home against Emirates to round out a difficult return to the top division. Alexandro followed a hat-trick in his previous match with two goals yesterday, scoring in the 24th and 40th minutes, to give him 10 league goals.
Luiz Henrique completed the scoring in the 85th minute as Emirates moved onto 30 points and took 10th place. Kalba managed 10 points, one less than their previous top-flight season.
apassela@thenational.ae
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE
