Author: Altayeb Ali

Al Dhafra Club Croatian technical director Alen Horvat expressed his satisfaction with the 10-day break, stressing that it was an ideal opportunity to raise the team’s readiness, with training sessions marked by energy and a positive atmosphere.

He made these remarks during the pre-match press conference for Ajman game, held on Wednesday evening at the press conference hall in Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, in the presence of player Mohammed Al Khaloui, to discuss the team’s preparations for the upcoming match.

Horvat explained that the team had good preparations for facing Ajman, describing the opponent as a strong side with quality players. At the same time, he stressed his great confidence in his squad and their ability to deliver a strong performance. He added, “We respect all teams in the league, but true respect is shown through hard work on the pitch.”

Al Dhafra coach also called on the fans to attend and support the players in this important match, emphasizing that their backing will have a significant impact on the team’s journey.

For his part, Al Dhafra player Mohammed Al Khaloui confirmed that the team’s main objective is to remain in the ADNOC Pro League, noting that Ajman match is a tough and important encounter, but that they have full confidence in their chances of achieving a positive result.

Al Khaloui concluded by highlighting the importance of fan attendance, considering their support a key source of strength and motivation for the players on the field.

Al Dhafra lost 1-0 to their guests Al Nasr in the match played on Saturday evening at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium, as part of Matchweek 22 of the ADNOC Pro League.

The game started quietly, with play largely confined to the midfield during the first 30 minutes and no real threat on either goal, as Al Dhafra showed good defensive organization despite a few minor errors.

Al Dhafra’s best chance of the first half came just before the break, when Mohsen Al Rabja rose to meet a corner kick with a header, but it was easily saved by Al Nasr goalkeeper.
t , and the first half ended goalless.

In the second half, the match continued at the same slow pace, with limited attempts from both sides. In the 74th minute, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to review a penalty decision, but the referee ultimately decided not to award it.

Al Nasr scored the winning goal in the 77th minute through Cheickna Doumbia, who capitalized on a corner kick and headed the ball powerfully into the net.

In the closing minutes, Al Dhafra increased their pressure in search of an equalizer, benefiting from attacking substitutions with the introduction of Ayoub El Kaabi and Marcelinho. They nearly leveled the score from a dangerous free kick taken by Joe Rustand, but Al Nasr’s goalkeeper made an excellent save.

With this result, Al Dhafra remain on 18 points in 12th place, while Al Nasr move up to 31 points in 6th place.

Al Dhafra’s first football team will host Al Nasr at 5:55 pm this Saturday at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium, as part of Matchweek 22 of the ADNOC Pro League.

Al Dhafra enters today’s match with a different outlook and renewed ambitions following the recent coaching change, marked by the return of their former coach Alen Hovarth, who previously led the team to promotion to the Pro League last season.

This match carries special significance as it marks the coach’s first appearance in charge after the recent change to the technical staff. The team is counting on this shift to bring about a qualitative improvement both mentally and tactically.

During the week’s training sessions, the players showed high morale and strong determination to regain balance and get back on track, benefiting from the positive atmosphere that often accompanies such changes.

The match is expected to see some tactical adjustments, whether in playing style or player positioning, as the coach looks to imprint his style from the very first game and restore confidence within the squad.

Al Dhafra fans hope this encounter will mark a true turning point toward a more stable and successful phase, with aspirations to deliver a strong performance and achieve a positive result.

Wishing Al Dhafra players the best of luck in delivering a strong performance and securing a positive outcome.

Alen Horvat, the newly appointed head coach of Al Dhafra’s first football team, expressed his happiness at returning to lead the team once again, confirming that he has returned with a positive spirit and high energy to work on improving the team’s position in the league standings.

He made these remarks during the pre-match press conference for Al Dhafra’s game against Al Nasr in matchweek 22 of the ADNOC Pro League, held on Thursday evening at the press conference hall of Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium, in the presence of player Rayan Yaslam.

The Croatian coach explained that the task will not be easy, noting that all teams are striving to improve their positions in the standings during the final five rounds of the league, which increases the level of competition.

Hovarth added that the technical staff is working on preparing the team well through smart planning for the upcoming match, pointing out that the past three days with the team were dedicated to adaptation—an important factor at this stage. He also expressed his happiness at returning to the club, highlighting his familiarity with several players since the end of last season, and reaffirming his strong enthusiasm to take on the challenge.

He concluded by calling on Al Dhafra fans to attend the match and support the team from the stands given the importance of the fixture.

For his part, Rayan Yaslam welcomed Hovarth’s return to lead the team once again, wishing him success in his mission.

Yaslam stressed the difficulty of the upcoming match against Al Nasr next Saturday, pointing to the opponent’s strength and quality, while also emphasizing the determination of Al Dhafra players to give their best, taking advantage of home support.

He added that the team has the ability to deliver better performances, expressing hope that this match will mark a new starting point toward achieving a positive result and getting back on the right track, while reaffirming his confidence in his teammates to perform in a manner befitting the club’s stature.

The former international also called on the club’s fans and supporters to stand behind the team and support them from the stands.

Al Dhafra’s first football team suffered a 1-0 defeat against hosts Dibba Al Fujairah in the match played this evening as part of the First Division League competition.

The match saw a balanced performance from both sides for most of its periods, as Al Dhafra tried to reach the opponent’s goal and create attacking opportunities, but the team failed to take advantage of the chances available. Meanwhile, Dibba Al Fujairah managed to score the only goal of the match and secure the victory.

With this result, Al Dhafra remained on their previous points tally, while Dibba Al Fujairah increased their total after earning the win in this round.

Al Dhafra’s first football team will be hosted by Dibba Al Fujairah at 5:50 pm this Sunday, as part of Matchweek 21 of the ADNOC Pro League.

Al Dhafra heads into the match aiming for all three points to regain their winning form, which has been absent over the last nine rounds, and to improve their position in the standings as the competition approaches its final stages.

The team’s technical staff, led by Željko Petrović, completed preparations during the international break through intensive training sessions, focusing on preparing the substitutes to compensate for the influential absences caused by injuries and suspensions. The coach expressed confidence in the available players’ ability to secure this important result.

It is worth noting that Al Dhafra sit 12th in the table with 18 points, while Dibba Al Fujairah is at the bottom of the standings with 14 points, making this match especially important in the battle to improve positions.

Željko Petrović, head coach of Al Dhafra’s first football team, stressed the importance of the upcoming match against Dibba Al Fujairah next Sunday in Matchweek 21 of the ADNOC Pro League.

He made the remarks during the pre-match press conference held on Friday evening at the press conference hall of Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, in the presence of Al Dhafra player Mansour Al Harbi.

Petrović emphasized that the match is highly important for both teams, while also pointing to the significance of Al Dhafra’s remaining matches during the next phase of the league campaign.

He added that the technical staff had prepared well for the match over the past two weeks despite the absence of several players, explaining that the team had worked on compensating for those absences with new players. He stressed that they understand the responsibility placed upon them and that the team must travel to Dibba, aiming to secure all three points while maintaining maximum focus and intelligence in order to preserve the club’s place in the league.

For his part, Mansour Al Harbi stressed the importance of the match for both sides, noting that the players will give everything they have to deliver a performance that meets their ambitions, the ambitions of the club’s board of directors, and brings joy to the fans.

Al Harbi also called on Al Dhafra supporters to attend the match and back the players during this important stage of the team’s league journey.

Al Dhafra’s first football team suffered a 3–0 defeat against hosts Al Wasl in their match on Wednesday evening at Zabeel Stadium, as part of Matchweek 20 of the ADNOC Pro League.

The first half was relatively balanced, with both sides showing a cautious approach for most of the period. Al Dhafra relied on a conservative defensive setup, attempting to reach Al Wasl’s goal through sporadic counterattacks and long balls, but these efforts failed to pose any real threat.

On the other hand, Al Wasl looked slightly better in terms of possession and attacking intent, though they struggled to break through Al Dhafra’s defense until the 30th minute, when they managed to score the opener with a header. The first half ended with Al Dhafra trailing 1–0.

In the second half, Al Dhafra failed to respond as needed despite their urgency to equalize. The team’s performance declined, and individual errors emerged, which Al Wasl capitalized on to score two more goals in the 51st and 80th minutes.

Al Dhafra’s technical staff attempted to turn the game around with several attacking substitutions, but the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle confirmed a 3–0 victory for Al Wasl.

The match also saw three red cards issued—two for Al Dhafra players and one for an Al Wasl player.

With this result, Al Dhafra remain on 18 points in 12th place, while Al Wasl move up to 33 points in fifth place.

Al Dhafra Club fans and supporters turn their attention this Wednesday evening to Za’abeel Stadium, home of Al Wasl, for the anticipated clash that brings together “Fares Al Dhafra” and their hosts Al Wasl in Matchweek 20 of the ADNOC Pro League, kicking off at 9:30 PM.

The two sides enter the match with contrasting ambitions, adding a distinct competitive edge to the encounter. Al Dhafra, who sit 12th with 18 points, are striving to escape the danger zone and secure a positive result that would boost their chances of survival.

On the other hand, Al Wasl, playing at home and currently fifth with 30 points, aims to consolidate its position and move closer to the top four, taking advantage of Al Wahda’s setback against Al Ain yesterday.

Meanwhile, Al Dhafra’s technical staff, led by Montenegrin coach Željko Petrović, has focused on addressing the shortcomings from the previous match while analyzing the opponent’s strengths and preparing the appropriate tactical approach for a game that appears open to all possibilities, given the strong motivation on both sides.

Best wishes to Al Dhafra players for a strong performance and the desired result.

Montenegrin coach Željko Petrović, head coach of Al Dhafra’s first football team, confirmed the difficulty of the upcoming clash against Al Wasl FC in Matchweek 20 of the ADNOC Pro League.

This came during the pre-match press conference held on Monday evening at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium, in the presence of player Sultan Al Za’aabi.

Petrović stressed the importance of maintaining focus throughout the match and adhering to a strong defensive system, praising the team’s defensive performance in their previous match against Al Jazira Club despite being a man down.

He added that the match against Al Wasl will be difficult but not impossible, noting that around seven matches remain in the league and that the team needs two or three wins to secure survival.

The Al Dhafra coach confirmed that the team will enter the match with high morale and strong confidence in the players, despite the absence of some key elements, expressing hope that luck will be on their side.

Meanwhile, Sultan Al Zaabi emphasized the importance of the current stage of the season, stating that it requires greater focus and fighting spirit on the pitch.

He also highlighted the difficulty of the upcoming match against Al Wasl, expressing hope that fans will attend and support the players during the game.