DUBAI // Baniyas are set to complete their foreign quartet for the new season in the coming days following an agreement with Al Ain for their French winger Jires Kembo Ekoko.
A former France Under 21 international, Kembo Ekoko moved to Al Ain in 2012 from Rennes on a four-year deal and was part of two Arabian Gulf League championships — in 2012/13 and then last season after returning to the club following a year on loan at the Qatari club El Jaish.
Kembo Ekoko, 27, failed to keep his place in Zlatko Dalic’s squad for their Arabian Gulf League title-defence with the arrival of former Dutch international Ryan Babel and Brazilian Fellipe Bastos.
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Baniyas expressed their interest in Kembo Ekoko earlier in the summer and seem to have convinced the player to make the switch. The Abu Dhabi club, however, are waiting for Al Ain to make the player’s departure official before they announce the deal.
Kembo Ekoko has refused to confirm the move. “I do not sign with Baniyas,” he tweeted on Sunday morning. “When I will sign somewhere, I will you let you know. I’m still in Al Ain.”
Baniyas will be starting the season with a new set of foreign players. The club have already signed three players — Australian defender Mark Milligan, Algerian winger Ishak Belfodil and Argentine striker Joaquin Larrivey.
Al Ain, meanwhile, will start their domestic campaign at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on August 15 after the Pro League Committee decided to move the season-opening Super Cup clash against President's Cup champions Al Nasr from the smaller Baniyas Stadium to Al Jazira's home ground.
The Baniyas Stadium has a seating capacity of around 9,000, which means only 4,500 fans each from Al Ain and Nasr could have attended the game. Some supporters of the two clubs were unhappy with that arrangement and expressed their disappointment on social media.
The PLC has shifted the match to the 42,000-seater Mohammed bin Zayed.
“The PLC took the decision to transfer the match to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium to give an opportunity to the largest number of fans to attend the inaugural match of the season,” the PLC said in a statement announcing the change of venue.
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