For a club that was established only in 2000, with a squad that trains in Abu Dhabi city and travels more than 150 kilometres to play home games in the Western Region town of Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra have had a significant impact in the top flight.
They do not have any realistic chance to win the top flight but have a main objective of remaining there and, perhaps, improving on their eighth-place finishes of the past two seasons.
Abdulsalam Jumaa, who plied his trade at Al Wahda and Al Jazira before accepting an offer to lead Dhafra, has added value with his leadership and experience.
His two seasons at the club as captain have been their best, the two eighth-place finishes.
“I wanted to quit after my spell at Jazira in 2011,” the veteran midfielder said. “The Dhafra management requested me to spend one season with them. Now I am on my third year.
“I have been persuaded to stay on even as I want to quit after every season. I think we have a fairly decent squad and the obvious objective is to remain in the top flight.
“For a club with limited resources, we must be realistic of our objectives.
“The last two seasons have been fantastic for us. We have almost the same squad except with the two new foreigners.
“For us, it is very tough task to maintain the same level every season, particularly when the bar is raised every passing year in the Arabian Gulf League. We are hopeful, however.”
They earned promotion in only their second season, in 2002/2003, and have been a yo-yo team, relegated and promoted four times.
They escaped the drop in 2011/2012, when the league was expanded by two teams to 14.
Dhafra enjoyed their best season in 2012/2013 tallying 36 points under the Frenchman Laurent Banide.
FOREIGN PLAYERS
Makhete Diop
The tall Senegalese has received offers from the leading clubs in the country but decided to stay at Dhafra for a third season. Diop has a clinical finish from anywhere close to the box and is strong in aerial attack. He has twice topped the club’s scoring charts, with 18 and 22 league goals, and is expected to improve his scoring record this season.
Matias Defedrico
The new summer signing from Argentina plays on the wing. He is venturing into new territory, having spent all his time at home, barring one season at Corinthians in Brazil. He has made two appearances for Argentina, scoring on his debut against Panama in a friendly.
Paulo Oliveira
The Brazilian joins Dhafra as the strike partner to Diop. He began his career at his native club Democrata and moved to Sweden to play for BK Hacken (2007 to 2010) and Orebro (2011). Oliveira returned to Brazil to spend two seasons at Sao Jose and Bragantino.
Bilal Najjarine
The Lebanese centre-back followed his former coach Abdullah Misfir from Fujairah to Dhafra last season. He certainly must have proved his worth for the club to retain his services as their Asian player.
apassela@thenational.ae
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