DUBAI // Al Shabab have promoted Eder Lima to their first-team squad as cover for Azizbek Haydarov, the injured midfielder.
The Brazilian, who most recently featured for clubs in the Brazilian second division, has been training with the Dubai side for the past two months and joins them on a six-month contract.
Given that he holds a Palestinian passport, Lima qualifies as Shabab’s Asian representative and will immediately take the place of Haydarov, who tore his hamstring last month. The Uzbek midfielder, an ever-present as Shabab moved to second in the Arabian Gulf League, is expected to be out for up to six weeks.
With Shabab due to play teams around them in the standings – Al Ain, Sharjah and Al Jazira – in that time, with the President’s Cup quarter-finals next week and the Gulf Clubs Championship set for late February, they decided to push forward Eder’s registration.
“We originally took him in case we needed him for the Gulf tournament, and if he proved good enough we planned to sign him for next season,” said Obaid Hubaitha, the Shabab team manager. “But then the situation changed with Haydarov getting injured.
“We have to play six matches across all the competitions, and the league matches are very critical, as they’re against strong teams. We want to be ready and prepare ourselves to fight in second place and above.”
Lima, 26, has spent most of his career in Brazil, most notably enjoying a successful loan spell in 2008 with Flamengo, although he did play one season in Europe with AEK Athens, the prominent Greek club.
At Shabab, Lima will again feature alongside Adeilson, once a teammate at Brazilian side Cricicuma. An attacking midfielder, Lima was recommended by Marcos Paqueta, Shabab’s Brazilian coach, who has extensive contacts in his homeland.
“The coach requested him because he can add something to the team,” Hubaitha said. “Until now we’re a little off, especially in counter-attacks, and so need a quick player who can fill the spaces on the pitch.
“Lima knows the team; it’s not as if he’s coming in from outside and has to adapt.”
Hubaitha was keen to stress Lima’s progression into the first team does not affect Haydarov in the long term, with the midfielder extending his contract with the club for another 18 months.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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