ABU DHABI // With his team one match away from the Gulf Clubs Championship, interim Baniyas manager Salem Al Orafi has a chance to state his case for a full-time role next season.
Baniyas are 1-0 down against Najran of Saudi Arabia heading into tonight’s second leg in Abu Dhabi. It will be the biggest test of the 45-year-old Emirati’s current spell in charge of the Baniyas first team.
Tonight’s game is Al Orafi’s fourth since Jozef Chovanec was moved from head coach to a technical consultant position. He has yet to win a match inside 90 minutes.
Al Orafi led Baniyas to the last-four stage of the GCC with a penalty-shoot-out victory over defending champions Al Muharraq of Bahrain.
His next game was a 2-2 draw with Al Dhafra in the Pro League, before a 1-0 away defeat to Najran.
“If we want to progress in this competition, there is only one way and that is to win this game,” Al Orafi said.
“Our first meeting with Najran was a close one, and hopefully we can turn that result around using the home advantage.”
Al Orafi was handed a similar caretaker job at the beginning of last season before the club appointed Gabriel Calderon, the Argentine, after they parted ways with the Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira.
“It is the decision of the club management to appoint me for the remainder of the season with the hope a change may bring some good results,” Al Orafi said.
“For me, it is a familiar position, because I have been in the club long enough, both as a player and coach and know all the players more than anyone else.”
Al Orafi has been a member of Baniyas since 1982, one year after the club was established. As captain, he led them to a President’s Cup triumph over Al Nasr in 1992.
He quit as a player in 1996 and started coaching the youth team, became an assistant coach and later was appointed the technical director of the club.
“We are all working for the betterment and the success of the club, and as such, there is a very good understanding among the technical staff and the players,” Al Orafi said.
“What’s important at this point is for everyone to focus on this game against Najran. A win for the team would mean win for everyone.
“Our first objective would be to wipe out the deficit in this two-leg format of the competition.
“We have done pretty well this season, yet we haven’t had success in terms of a title. The Gulf Clubs Championship provides us that opportunity. The players are naturally motivated to win a trophy and end the season on a high.”
Apart from Mohammed Jaber, the defender who is serving a one-match ban for two yellow cards, Al Orafi has a full squad at his disposal.
“Our preparations have gone well and we will have the best available line-up for this game,” he said.
"The players are aware of what we need to do. For them, to play in a final will be enough motivation. They are also very confident and fully focused, because this is the most important game for Baniyas."
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The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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