Author: Altayeb Ali

Croatian coach Alen Horvat, head coach of Al Dhafra Club’s first football team, said his team faces another difficult challenge in the second round of the ADNOC Pro League, following their opening-round match against Sharjah.

He made the remarks during the pre-match press conference for Shabab Al Ahli game, held Thursday evening in the press conference room at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed. Horvat discussed the team’s preparations for the match and was accompanied by Al Dhafra player Regi Lushkja.

Al Dhafra coach added that their opponents are a big name in the league and are considered among the contenders for the title.

Horvat confirmed that Al Dhafra are ready for the match, noting that the players had worked hard throughout the week and shown positive energy.

He finally added that the team continues to make progress in its work, with the aim of improving as the days go by.

For his part, Regi Lushkja acknowledged the difficulty of Shabab Al Ahli match, saying that the team had completed its preparations and would work to implement the instructions of the coach and technical staff.

The Albanian player also called on the team’s fans to attend the match, stressing that the team hopes to achieve the best possible results during the season and that the supporters are considered the team’s “12th player.”

Al Dhafra Club suffered a 3–1 defeat from Sharjah in their opening match of the 2026–2027 ADNOC Pro League season.

The match was played on Saturday evening at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City as part of the competition’s first round.

The first half was evenly contested, with Sharjah enjoying a slight advantage. The visitors opened the scoring in the 39th minute, taking a 1–0 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Al Dhafra stepped up their attacking efforts in search of an equalizer. Sharjah goalkeeper Adel Al Hosni produced an outstanding save in the 51st minute, brilliantly stopping a powerful effort from Rostand Djooh and keeping his team in front.

Al Dhafra’s pressure paid off in the 59th minute when Dominique Mendy unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that found the back of the Sharjah net.

However, Al Dhafra’s joy was short-lived, as Sharjah regained the lead in the 66th minute by scoring their second goal.

Al Dhafra’s coaching staff made several substitutions during the second half in an effort to strengthen the attack and get back into the match. The home side continued to push for an equalizer, but Sharjah’s defensive organization prevented them from doing so.

In the added time, while Al Dhafra were searching for an equalizer, Sharjah scored a third goal to seal a 3–1 victory and claim all three points from the opening round.

Al Dhafra first Football team is looking to repeat last season’s scenario, when it began its campaign at home with a victory over Al Wasl.

This time, the team will aim to secure a win in its opening match against visiting Sharjah, as the two sides meet this evening, Saturday, at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City, in the opening round of the ADNOC Pro League for the 2026–2027 season.

Al Dhafra enter today’s match with high ambitions and renewed challenges, determined to make a strong start that will provide an important psychological boost at the beginning of the new campaign. This is particularly significant given the strong competition witnessed in the opening round, which saw Ajman defeat Al Wahda while Kalba drew with Al Nasr.

Al Dhafra are also counting on a number of new signings and players who joined the squad during the transfer window. The club’s supporters, known as the “Knights of Al Dhafra,” have high hopes that these additions will make a positive impact and help the club achieve its ambitions and meet the expectations of its fans throughout the new season.

Al Dhafra completed their preparations for the match with a series of intensive training sessions. Under the leadership of Croatian coach Alen Horvat, the technical staff focused on improving the players’ fitness levels, building greater cohesion within the squad, and working on the technical and tactical aspects that the team will rely on against Sharjah.

The “Knights of Al Dhafra” supporters are eagerly anticipating a strong performance at the start of the campaign—one that reflects the team’s high ambitions for the new season and produces a positive result to give Al Dhafra an ideal start to their ADNOC Pro League journey.

Best of luck to Al Dhafra in delivering a strong performance and achieving the result their supporters are hoping for.

Croatian coach Alen Hovart, head coach of Al Dhafra, expects a strong and difficult match against Sharjah in the opening round of the ADNOC Pro League, stressing that his team is ready for its first game of the new season.

Hovart made the remarks during the pre-match press conference held on Thursday evening in the press conference room at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City. The conference focused on Al Dhafra’s preparations for the match and was attended by team captain Abdullah Al Karbi.

At the beginning of the conference, Hovart said that Sharjah will fight to compete for the top spot in the league, describing them as one of the teams that regularly challenge for the highest positions. He stressed that facing a team of Sharjah’s quality represents an important test for Al Dhafra at the start of the season.

“The match will be a good indicator of how ready our team is at the beginning of the season. Our goal is to continue working with the same organization and high level of confidence that we showed during the preparation period. We played only a few friendly matches, but they were good and beneficial. If we continue to work in the same way against Sharjah, that will be a positive thing for us,” he said.

Al Dhafra head coach also invited the club’s supporters to attend the match at Hamdan Bin Zayed Stadium and get behind the team.

“I would like to take this opportunity to invite our great fans to come to the stadium, stand behind the team and support us, so that we can achieve positive results at the start of the season,” he said.

For his part, team captain Abdullah Al Karbi expressed his hope that the match against Sharjah would be a successful start for Al Dhafra following what he described as a successful pre-season camp.

Al Karbi also called on the club’s supporters, known as the “Knights of Al Dhafra,” to continue supporting the team and attend the opening match of the season, as they did throughout the previous campaign. He emphasized that the fans’ support provides players with important motivation to give their best and achieve the results they are aiming for.

His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, has issued a decision to reconstitute the Board of Directors of Al Dhafra Sports and Cultural Club.

The new board will be chaired by Hamdan Saif Mohammed Hamdan Al Mansoori, with Hamad Khamis Salem Dhaiban Al Mansoori serving as Vice Chairman.

The Board’s membership also includes Jaber Ali Murshid Khamis Al Marar, Ghawiya Mohammed Khuwaidem Abdullah Al Neyadi, Tahnoon Mohammed Ahmed Salem Al Mazrouei, and Murshid Khalfan Mohammed Jarsh Al Marar.

The new term of the newly formed board shall be three years from the date of issuance of the decision.

Successfully, “Al Dhafra” secured its place in next season’s UAE Pro League after claiming a valuable and dramatic 1-0 victory over guests Al Wahda FC in the match held on Saturday evening at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in the final round of the competition.

Al Dhafra FC determined their fate with their own hands after raising their tally to 22 points in 12th place, moving clear of Al Bataeh Club and Dibba Al Fujairah FC, who finished 13th and 14th respectively, to officially confirm their continuation in the top flight.

Al Dhafra owed the victory to Moroccan star Karim El Berkaoui, who scored the match’s only goal in the 81st minute after receiving the ball inside the penalty area, turning brilliantly before firing a powerful shot to the left of Al Wahda’s goalkeeper, sparking celebrations among the “Al Dhafra supporters.

The match began in a balanced fashion between the two sides in terms of performance and possession. However, Al Dhafra showed greater attacking intent and more attempts to reach Al Wahda’s goal, without creating real danger during the first half.

A major turning point came in the 34th minute when the referee showed a red card to Al Wahda player Wagner for protesting the officiating decisions. Al Dhafra took advantage of the numerical superiority and imposed greater control, especially at the start of the second half.

Al Dhafra intensified their attacking pressure in search of the survival goal. As time passed, possession and dominance increasingly favored Al Dhafra until El Berkaoui converted the superiority into a precious goal that secured safety for his side.

In the closing minutes, Al Wahda attempted to fight back and find an equalizer, but Al Dhafra’s defense and goalkeeper Amjad Alsayed delivered standout performances, allowing the team to preserve its lead until the final whistle confirmed a 1-0 victory and official survival in the UAE Pro League.

Al Dhafra started the match with the following lineup: Amjad Al Sayed in goal, alongside Ezekiel, Al Karbi, Yousuf Al Marzouqi, Leonard, Serafim, Gibson Souza, Rostand Djooh, Ibrahim Bayesh, Karim El Berkaoui, and Mohammed Al Khalaoui.

In the second half, the coaching staff made several substitutions with Marcelinho, Abdullah Idris, Mohsen Al Rabja, Al Sousi, and Zakaria coming on in place of Serafim, Ezekiel, Ibrahim Bayesh, Leonard, and Karim El Berkaoui.

Al Dhafra FC will host Al Wahda FC at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in a clash headlined as “a match for survival.”

The match, which comes in the final round of the UAE Pro League, sees Al Dhafra enter with the slogan “Nothing but victory.”

The encounter represents the team’s final opportunity to keep their hopes alive of remaining among the top-flight clubs.

Al Dhafra approaches the game under tremendous pressure, as they have no option other than winning and hoping for direct rivals Dibba Al Fujairah FC and Al Bataeh Club to stumble against Al Ain FC and Shabab Al Ahli Club, respectively, in simultaneous fixtures that will determine the relegation battle.

The technical staff and players fully realize that any result other than victory could officially end the team’s survival hopes, giving the match a decisive character that demands maximum concentration and fighting spirit on the pitch.

During the final preparations, the coaching staff focused on raising the players’ technical and mental readiness, urging them to show fighting spirit and give everything they have in this crucial encounter.

Al Dhafra players are expected to deliver a combative performance, holding firmly to their hopes until the final moments of the season.

On the other hand, the team’s supporters are eagerly looking forward to the match, rallying behind the players with great hope and strong belief in their ability to achieve the impossible and celebrate together after the final whistle.

Best wishes to Al Dhafra players in delivering a strong performance and securing victory in this important clash.

Alen Hovart, head coach of Al Dhafra FC, stressed the importance of his team’s match against Al Wahda FC in the final round of the UAE Pro League.

He made the remarks during the pre-match press conference held on Thursday, May 14, at the press conference hall of Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium, in the presence of the team’s striker Karim El Berkaoui.

Hovart confirmed that the match represents the team’s final opportunity to remain in the UAE Pro League, noting that encounters of this nature require actions more than words. He said, “We have to make our statement on the pitch through our performance and the result, without looking back at the past, and with full focus only on this match.”

Al Dhafra coach also called on the club’s supporters to attend the match and continue backing the team in this decisive encounter, praising their continued support throughout the season.

For his part, Karim El Berkaoui stressed the importance of the match, describing it as “a game that cannot be divided by two,” emphasizing that the main objective is to secure all three points. He added that the players fully understand the magnitude of their responsibility toward the club and its fans.

El Berkaoui also urged Al Dhafra supporters to continue their backing and stand behind the team at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium during the anticipated clash.

Al Dhafra FC face a crucial and decisive challenge as they travel to take on Al Ain FC at 7:25 p.m. this Sunday at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, in the penultimate round of the UAE Pro League.

Al Dhafra enter the match sitting 13th in the standings with 19 points, facing a difficult test against Al Ain, who secured the league title three rounds ago after demonstrating consistency and superiority throughout the season.

Al Dhafra are aiming to achieve a positive result that would keep their survival hopes alive amid the intense battle to avoid relegation in the final stages of the campaign. The team will also be monitoring the outcomes of other matches taking place at the same time, particularly Dibba’s clash with Ajman and Al Bataeh’s encounter against Sharjah, hoping their direct rivals drop points while they secure a favorable result against Al Ain.

The players are fully aware of the difficulty of the task against one of the league’s strongest and most stable sides this season. However, high morale and belief in the team’s abilities remain key motivations for delivering a strong performance, along with the tactical discipline and concentration required in such decisive encounters.

Al Dhafra currently hold 19 points in 13th place, and even a draw could delay the decision on their fate until the final round, regardless of victories for direct rivals Dibba and Al Bataeh.

The coaching staff and Al Dhafra supporters are hoping the team can produce a determined display that reflects the players’ desire to keep their survival hopes alive and secure a result that boosts their chances heading into the final round of the competition.

Alen Horvat, head coach of Al Dhafra FC, congratulated Al Ain FC on winning the ADNOC Pro League title, praising the club’s rich history and distinguished status in uae football.

His comments came during the pre-match press conference for the Al Dhafra vs. Al Ain clash, held on Friday, May 6, at the press conference hall of Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, in the presence of goalkeeper Amjad Al Sayed.

Horvat stressed that facing Al Ain represents an important opportunity for Al Dhafra’s players to showcase their abilities and deliver their best performance, acknowledging the difficulty of the match against a side with great quality and experience. He added that his team continues to improve from one match to another in terms of performance and is striving to achieve its objectives as the season approaches its conclusion, which he described as the technical staff’s main priority.

For his part, Amjad Al Sayed congratulated Al Ain on securing the league title, emphasizing that the players have strong belief in God and confidence in their abilities to overcome the current stage.

The Al Dhafra goalkeeper added that all players will enter the match fully focused on achieving the best possible result, expressing hope that the team can make its supporters happy by the end of the season.