The Pro League Committee has announced the dates for the first half of the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season and the group stages of the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf Cup.
Super Cup
With the season’s curtain-raising Arabian Gulf Super Cup taking place on Saturday, August 15, between Al Ain and Al Nasr at Baniyas Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the new league campaign will kick off four days later with the opening round of fixtures.
Al Ahli kick-off new season
The first ball of the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season will be kicked at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai as Al Ahli host Fujairah at 7.30pm on Wednesday August 19, allowing the Dubai club time to prepare for their Asian Champions League quarter-final first leg against Iranian club Naft Tehran August 26.
The rest begin campaigns
The remaining AGL Round 1 fixtures will take place over the next two days: On Thursday August 20 newcomers Dibba Al Fujairah host Al Wahda and Al Shaab welcome Baniyas. Friday sees Al Ain, the Arabian Gulf League champions, kick-start their campaign at home to Al Dhafra. The other fixtures on Friday, August 21 are: Al Shabab v Sharjah, Al Jazira v Al Wasl and Al Nasr v Emirates.
Arabian Gulf Cup dates
The Committee also announced that the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf Cup will commence on Thursday August 27, with Al Shabab hosting Dibba in Group B and holders Al Nasr, who defeated Al Ahli in last year’s final in a penalty shoot-out, travel to Baniyas. The following day sees Al Shaab visit Al Wasl in Group A and Al Wahda host Fujairah in Group B.
Battle of the titans
Undoubtedly the tie of the round will see Al Jazira lock horns with UAE champions Al Ain in Group B, also on Friday, August 28. Al Ahli’s first Arabian Gulf Cup match will be played on Monday August 31, against Emirates. Sharjah and Al Dhafra will sit out the first round. The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday January 1 with the final scheduled for Friday March 25.
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE ROUND 1 FIXTURES
August 19
7.30pm: Al Ahli v Fujairah, Rashid Stadium
August 20
7.25pm: Fujairah v Al Wahda, Fujairah Stadium
7.30pm: Al Shaab v Baniyas, Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium
August 21
6pm: Al Shabab v Sharjah, Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium
6pm: Al Ain v Al Dhafra, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
8.45pm: Al Nasr v Emirates, Al Maktoum Stadium
8.45pm: A; Jazira v Al Wasl, Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium
ARABIAN GULF CUP ROUND 1 FIXTURES
August 27
7.25pm: Al Shabab v Dibba, Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium
7.30pm: Baniyas v Al Nasr, Baniyas Stadium
August 28
5.55pm: Al Wasl v Al Shaab, Zabeel Stadium
6pm: Al Wahda v Fujairah, Al Nahyan Stadium
8.45pm: Al Jazira v Al Ain, Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium
August 31
7.20pm: Al Ahli v Emirates, Rashid Stadium
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