Caio: Al Wasl ‘have to win’ against Al Jazira to maintain Arabian Gulf League title hopes

The Brazilian forward has stressed the importance of victory over title rivals Al Jazira this weekend if Al Wasl want to end their decade-long wait for an eighth UAE league title.

Caio, second left, and Fabio De Lima, right, have scored more than 74 per cent of Al Wasl's goals in the Arabian Gulf League this season. Tom Dulat / Getty Images

Al Wasl forward Caio has said his side “have to win” their next fixture against title rivals Al Jazira if they want to fulfil their ambition of becoming Arabian Gulf League champions.

Wasl are one of the traditional powerhouses of UAE football having won seven league titles in their history, the same as Dubai rivals Al Ahli. Only Al Ain with 12 have won more.

However, Wasl’s last title was achieved a decade ago in the 2006/07 season, and they have struggled to even contend in recent years, with successive sixth places finishes in the past two seasons.

This season though, optimism is high at the Zabeel Stadium with Wasl sitting third in the table, one point behind leaders Al Ain and level with second-placed Jazira, albeit having played a game more than both clubs.

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Wasl will have the chance to displace Jazira in second and boost their title chances when they host the Abu Dhabi club on Friday evening. A victory would also move Wasl top of the table, at least for 24 hours until Al Ain take on Baniyas at Baniyas Stadium.

Speaking after Wasl's Arabian Gulf Cup semi-final defeat to Al Shabab on Monday, Caio explained the importance of three points against Jazira this weekend.

“Our main focus is the league — nothing else,” the Brazilian said. “The league gives us a chance to go to the Asian Champions League, through the top three.

“But we are aiming for the title and we have Al Jazira next at home — we have to win.”

Central to Wasl’s success so far this season has been Caio’s partnership with fellow Brazilian forward Fabio de Lima. Caio has scored seven goals in the Arabian Gulf League, while De Lima tops the goalscoring charts with 16, meaning the pair have contributed to over 74 per cent of Wasl’s goals.

Both Caio and De Lima arrived at Wasl in the summer of 2014, the former initially on a season-long loan before making his move permanent the following year.

“Me and Fabio De Lima are the foreign players who have been here the longest and we haven’t won anything during this time or competed for anything,” Caio said.

“It is very difficult for us. We are very sad, also.

“But we keep our feet on the ground. We know the responsibility we have and the other players look up to us.

“I am not a man who usually runs from my responsibilities. On the 13th against Jazira, me and Fabio are going to assume them.”

Jazira too saw their hopes of winning the Arabian Gulf Cup end on Monday with a 1-0 defeat to Al Ahli. It was a second cup elimination for the Abu Dhabi side in as many games, having ended their President's Cup defence in a disastrous 6-0 defeat to city rivals Al Wahda.

* The National staff

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