Author: Altayeb Ali

Al Dhafra came from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hatta on Saturday evening at Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, earning their first three points of the ADNOC Pro League season.

Al Dhafra made the stronger start and looked the more threatening side in the opening stages. In the 20th minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review. The ruling sparked strong protests from Al Dhafra players and coaching staff, particularly after an earlier goal had also been ruled out following the preceding incident.

Hatta then took the lead in the 24th minute through Tunisian striker Seifeddine Al Jaziri. His effort struck the post before deflecting off Al Dhafra goalkeeper Amjad Al Sayed and ending up in the back of the net.

Al Dhafra responded strongly after the break, increasing the attacking pressure and making the most of Hatta’s numerical disadvantage. Their persistence was rewarded in the 57th minute when Rostand D jooh fired a powerful effort from outside the box to bring the visitors level.

Hatta came close to restoring their lead in the 75th minute on a dangerous counterattack. Firas Al Arabi’s powerful long-range effort struck the post before falling back to him, but Al Dhafra goalkeeper Amjad Al Sayed reacted brilliantly to keep out his second attempt.

With five minutes remaining, Al Dhafra completed the comeback. Moroccan forward Karim El Berkaoui found the back of the net in the 85th minute to put his side ahead and secure a valuable three points.

The victory takes Al Dhafra to three points and 12th place in the standings, while Hatta remain 13th with the same number of points.

A crucial victory for the Knights of Al Dhafra, who will be hoping to build on this result and continue their climb up the table in the coming fixtures.

Al Dhafra will take on Hatta away from home this Friday evening, with the two sides meeting at Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Hatta in Matchweek 5 of the ADNOC Pro League. The Knights of Al Dhafra will be looking to return to winning ways and secure a positive result that can strengthen their ambitions for the weeks ahead.

Kick-off is scheduled for 5:40pm, with Al Dhafra determined to produce a much-improved performance, claim all three points and take them back to Zayed City. The team remains focused on improving its position in the league table and producing results that match its ambitions.

Al Dhafra head into the match fully aware of its importance and the need to put an end to the difficult run of results in recent rounds. However, the team has continued to work hard, completing an intensive week of preparations with a clear focus on the upcoming fixture and without dwelling on previous results.

The players have shown a strong competitive spirit and determination during the final training sessions, demonstrating their commitment to giving their maximum effort. The squad has also displayed a high level of focus and discipline, responding positively to the coaching staff’s work and benefiting from the continued support of the club’s Board of Directors as they seek to reach peak readiness ahead of the Hatta clash.

Al Dhafra will be hoping that tonight’s match marks a new beginning for the team — an opportunity to turn the page, rebuild confidence and reorganise its position in the league standings in line with its ambitions and desire to return to where it belongs.

Best of luck to the Knights of Al Dhafra in their mission against Hatta. Here’s hoping they return to Zayed City with all three points.

Al Dhafra FC tea, will be looking to get their league campaign back on track and secure their first win of the season when they host Al Wahda at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in the fourth round of the ADNOC Pro League.

Al Dhafra head coach Alen Horvat says his team is determined to secure a positive result against Al Wahda in their upcoming fixture, despite facing a strong opponent.

Al Dhafra Football team players now turn their full attention to their away encounter against Khorfakkan.

All eyes will be on Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Stadium in Khorfakkan at 5:55 PM this Saturday, as the two sides meet in a fixture that sees them share similar circumstances, with neither team managing to collect a point from their opening two league matches.

Al Dhafra Knights enter the game with a clear objective: to secure their first points of the season. The encounter represents an important opportunity to put the difficult start behind them and restore their balance early in the league campaign.

Despite the similarities between the two teams’ situations, the match demands maximum concentration from Al Dhafra’s players. A victory would not only bring three valuable points but would also provide a significant psychological boost and help the team move beyond the disappointment of the opening two rounds—particularly after showing good balance and encouraging performances despite failing to convert those displays into points.

With the desire to claim their first victory and move away from the bottom places at an early stage of the season, the fixture promises to be an open contest with all possibilities on the table.

The challenge now is for Al Dhafra Knights to make the most of their opportunities, impose their style of play, and turn their efforts into a first league victory of the season.

Best of luck to  Al Dhafra Knights as they look to deliver a strong performance and return home with the three points.

Al Dhafra head coach Alen Horvatt has underlined the team’s high level of motivation ahead of their upcoming encounter with Khorfakkan, expressing confidence in the players’ readiness and their ability to secure a positive result.

Hofart made the remarks during the pre-match press conference held on Saturday evening at the media conference room of Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, where he discussed the team’s preparations for the fixture. He was joined at the press conference by Al Dhafra player Mohammed Al Hammadi.

The Croatian coach stressed that the team’s attention is now fully focused on the upcoming fixture and their opponents, Khorfakkan.

“Our focus is completely on the next match and on Khorfakkan. The players are highly motivated and are giving 100% in every training session. They are working extremely hard every day, and their commitment has been excellent,” Horvat said.

Horvat also praised the players for the strong mentality and team spirit they have displayed since the beginning of the league, highlighting the cooperation and unity within the squad.

“I believe the players deserve great credit for the high morale they have shown since the start of the league. The spirit of cooperation within the team has also been very positive, and this collective spirit can help us achieve the result we are looking for,” he added.

Al Dhafra head coach expressed his satisfaction with the quality and character of the professional players within the squad, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the same level of commitment and togetherness going forward.

Horvat concluded by extending his appreciation to Al Dhafra supporters for their continued backing of the team during the opening matches of the season, calling on them to once again turn out in numbers for the upcoming fixture.

“The support of our fans means a lot to us. Their presence gives the players extra energy and significantly lifts their morale. We hope to see them with us again in the next match and to reward their support with a positive result,” Horvat concluded.

Al Hammadi: We Are Determined to Deliver a Positive Result

Meanwhile, Al Dhafra forward Mohammed Al Hammadi reaffirmed the squad’s determination to produce a strong performance and secure a positive result against Khorfakkan.

“The players are fully focused on the match and are determined to achieve a positive result. We have promised ourselves to give our best and represent Al Dhafra in the best possible way,” Al Hammadi said.

He also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to collect all three points, emphasizing the importance of following the technical staff’s instructions and maintaining concentration throughout the match.

“We know what is required from us. With the guidance of the coaching staff and our collective effort, we believe we have what it takes to fight for the three points,” he added.

Al Hammadi also praised the Al Dhafra faithful for their tremendous support during the opening two rounds of the league.

“Our fans have been fantastic, and their support has given us a great boost. We hope we can repay them by putting in a strong performance and achieving a result that makes them proud and happy,” he concluded.

Horvat: Al Dhafra will compete against all teams regardless of their level

Croatian coach Alen Horvat, head coach of Al Dhafra, confirmed that his team delivered a good performance despite suffering a 2–0 defeat to hosts Shabab Al Ahli in the second round of the ADNOC Pro League.

He made the remarks during the post-match press conference, held shortly after the final whistle in the press conference room at Rashid Stadium in Dubai.

Both coaches shared their technical assessments of the match and discussed its key moments.

Al Dhafra coach added that his team had faced strong opponents in both the first and second rounds. Despite this, he said, the team had performed well and produced satisfactory displays.

Horvat attributed the defeat to the injuries his team suffered, along with some mistakes made during the match.

Al Dhafra’s head coach reiterated that his team will compete against all opponents throughout the current season, regardless of the strength or level of the opposition, emphasising the team’s ability to face a variety of challenges.

Al Dhafra suffered a 2–0 defeat to hosts Shabab Al Ahli in the match between the two sides on Saturday evening at Rashid Stadium in Dubai, as part of the second round of the ADNOC Pro League.

Al Dhafra started the match with a high level of focus, attempting to absorb Shabab Al Ahli’s attacking pressure as the hosts looked for an early goal.

As the game progressed, Al Dhafra’s players began to establish their presence on the pitch and compete for possession, relying on closing down spaces in front of the home side’s attack and launching counterattacks that posed some danger.

In the 35th minute, Al Dhafra coach was forced to make a substitution after goalkeeper Eisa Al Houti picked up an injury. Amjad Al Sayed came on in his place.

Before the end of the first half, Al Dhafra striker Mohamed Al Kholoui won a penalty, but the team’s striker Sory Kaba missed from the spot, leaving the score 0–0 at halftime.

The second half continued in much the same fashion, while Shabab Al Ahli made several changes in an effort to strengthen their attacking options and find the opening goal.

In the 60th minute, Al Dhafra coach made two substitutions at once, bringing on Samir Caetano and Darman Kumari in place of Serafim and Marcelinho. He later introduced Mohamed Al Hammadi for Khaled Bawazir.

Shabab Al Ahli finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, capitalizing on one of their attacking moves, before adding a second goal in the 88th minute following a defensive error.

The remaining minutes produced no significant incidents, and the referee blew the final whistle to confirm Al Dhafra’s 2–0 defeat.

Al Dhafra first football team will be hosted by Shabab Al Ahli at 6:00 p.m. today, Saturday, at Rashid Stadium in Dubai, as part of the second round of the ADNOC Pro League.

Al Dhafra head into the match determined to achieve a positive result against a strong and experienced opponent, particularly on their home ground and in front of their supporters.

Al Dhafra players are fully aware of the difficulty of the task, but they have the enthusiasm and fighting spirit to approach the game with the ambition of proving themselves and delivering a performance that reflects their ability to compete, regardless of the perceived technical differences. Ultimately, matches are decided not by reputations or names, but by effort, commitment, and determination on the pitch.

Al Dhafra lost their opening-round match against Sharjah, but the team emerged from the encounter with plenty of confidence and positive energy. This was highlighted by Croatian coach Alen Horvat, who said the team had regained its positive momentum following the defeat, strengthening its ability to continue working toward its objectives as the league campaign progresses.

Al Dhafra Knights will be hoping to put in a strong performance against Shabab Al Ahli and secure a positive result that will boost their points tally and provide an important morale boost for the remainder of their league campaign.

Best of luck to the Al Dhafra Knights in their mission against Shabab Al Ahli.