Junior Felicio Marques joins Kalba as Ahli and Achille Emana hit a snag

Kalba has called in reinforcements in their bid to avoid relegation, signing Brazilian midfielder Junior Felicio Marques, also known as Ji-Parana, writes Ahmed Rizvi.

Achille Emana's transfer from Al Ahli to Al Wasl has hit a snag.

DUBAI // Relegation-threatened Kalba have brought in the Brazilian midfielder Junior Felicio Marques to strengthen their battle for survival in the Pro League.

Marques, who is sometimes referred to as Ji-Parana, which is also the name of his hometown in Brazil, is Kalba's second foreign signing in the winter transfer window, after the Zimbabwean striker Edward Sadomba, and his arrival completes their quartet of foreign players for the second half of the season.

The club had released the Moroccan pair of Nabil Daoudi and Ahmed Jahouh after the end of the first half of the campaign, retaining the Frenchman Gregory Dufrennes and Amer Deeb of Jordan in the squad.

Kalba have also brought in Abdullah Jamahi and Ramadan Mohammed on loan from Al Shabab.

Marques, 25, has played for a number of Brazilian clubs including Corinthians and Internacional, but since 2010 he has been playing in Hungary for Gyori ETO.

The midfielder is expected to make his debut against Baniyas on Saturday.

"The player has a proven track record with Brazilian clubs," Ze Mario, the Kalba coach, said. "We also tested him before signing the deal. He played for the team in a friendly match against Fujairah and showed a good level.

"I expect him to participate in our next match of the Pro League against Baniyas."

Elsewhere, Al Wasl have signed the striker Mohammed Nasser on a four-year deal, but their negotiations with Al Ahli's Cameroon midfielder Achille Emana are far from complete.

Nasser, who arrives from Al Ain, is the club's second signing of the transfer window after the earlier deal with the defender Ghanem Bashir of Al Ahli.

The fans, however, will have to wait a bit longer before Emana is officially announced as a Wasl player as the parties are still negotiating personal terms.