The clubs that are most affected in the Arabian Gulf Cup are those with a greater presence in the UAE national team, which is preparing for next week’s Gulf Cup of Nations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The champions Al Ahli, Al Ain and Al Jazira are worst hit, but the cup is designed to provide fringe players an opportunity to play in the absence of the stars.
Ahli have seven players on national duty, while their goalkeeper, Majed Naser, has been handed a six-month ban and fined Dh200,000 by the FA's Disciplinary Committee for spitting at a referee during a league match against Al Ain.
The club have appealed the ban, but they may have to search out a permanent solution for Naser, whose time as a player may be over if the ban is upheld.
It is the second time he has been handed a lengthy punishment. He was suspended for 17 matches in 2012, while playing for Al Wasl, when he slapped then-Ahli coach Quique Sanchez Flores.
Naser is one of the best men on the job but has crossed the line much too often. He was the first choice keeper for the national team until his lengthy ban two years ago and, sadly for him, there seems to be no return.
Al Dhafra, whom they meet on Thursday, will be at full strength and they will certainly want to take advantage against Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu’s side.
Jazira and Al Ain will be severely weakened for the same reason, but this game will give both coaches, Eric Gerets and Zlatko Dalic, an opportunity to gauge the ability of their reserve players.
They were beaten by Kalba and Al Nasr respectively in the first round of matches and did not take the absence of their key players as an excuse. Instead, they used it to give their fringe players a chance to step up.
In most instances, many of the reserves in “big” clubs are good enough to match their opponents.
For the onlooker, the contest is more competitive and the incentive for the “smaller” teams greater.
Every coach has a different outlook regarding how best to deal with the situation and the occasion in the cup competition.
Jose Peseiro, the Al Wahda coach, had an opportunity to use his full-strength team against Ahli, who played all their foreigners. He opted to give his reserves a run-out when he had only Hamdan Al Kamali on national duty.
They went down 3-1, but the Portuguese did not offer any excuses. He did not take his players to task and did not complain about his team’s performance.
“If you don’t provide your reserves a chance to play in such competition, when would they get to play?” he said.
“Of course we will try to win every game we play, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of any player. For me, their welfare is paramount if we want to build for the future.”
Wahda and Al Nasr have byes this week.
apassela@thenational.ae
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