Category: غير مصنف

Montenegrin coach Željko Petrović, head coach of Al Dhafra Club, expects a difficult match for his team when they visit Al Bataeh this Friday, as part of the 16th round of the ADNOC Pro League.

This came during the pre-match press conference held on Wednesday evening at the press conference hall of Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, attended by team defender Abdullah Al Karbi.

Petrović confirmed that his main objective since taking charge of the team at the beginning of the season has been to ensure Al Dhafra’s survival in the ADNOC Pro League, expressing his hope to achieve this goal without pressure. He urged the players to play real football that reflects their true capabilities, and to remain optimistic and confident in their ability to improve the team’s situation until the end of the season in May.

The Montenegrin coach also praised the club’s recent new signings, both foreign and local players, noting that they represent fresh blood for the squad and strengthen the team’s technical options in the upcoming phase.

For his part, Abdullah Al Karbi, the team defender stressed the importance of the match against Al Bataeh, pointing out that both teams are in direct competition in the league standings. He confirmed that the players are aiming for a positive result in the match, and expressed his hope that the team will receive strong support from its fans at the stadium.

Al Dhafra Sports & Cultural Club has announced the launch of Al Dhafra Ramadan Tournament 2026, which will be held from 1 to 20 Ramadan, featuring more than 40 diverse sports and community competitions targeting all age groups, including men and women.

The tournament is considered the largest of its kind in Al Dhafra region in terms of the number of competitions and events, volume of participation, and prize value.

Hamdan Saif Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Dhafra Sports Club, praised the unlimited support provided by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, to sports, athletes, and community events in the region. He affirmed that this continuous support has had a significant impact on developing the sports sector, strengthening community engagement, and enabling clubs to organize high-quality tournaments that contribute to talent discovery and the promotion of positive sporting values.

The tournament will take place across six main cities, and will include a wide range of individual and team competitions for adults, youth, and special events for senior citizens from the local community.

The competitions vary across multiple sports disciplines, including football, volleyball, badminton, padel, basketball, marathon running, swimming, jiu-jitsu, chess, weightlifting, cricket, as well as traditional heritage sports such as Baloot and popular folk games. In addition, a special marathon for senior citizens will be organized, alongside community competitions that promote healthy lifestyles, family interaction, and spiritual engagement during the holy month of Ramadan.

Events will be hosted in Madinat Zayed, Al Marfa, Ghiyathi, Al Sila’a, Al Dhannah, and Dalma, reflecting the club’s commitment to expanding community participation and reaching all areas of Al Dhafra, while providing a competitive sports environment that reinforces Ramadan values and strengthens sports presence across the region.

In addition to its diverse sports competitions, the Ramadan tournament will also feature a Qur’an memorization competition, organized in cooperation with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, as part of the organizing committee’s commitment to delivering a comprehensive program that combines sport and spirituality during the holy month of Ramadan, in harmony with the values and message of the tournament.

Registration

The organizing committee announced that registration is now open via the club’s official website dfs.ae where interested participants can register and view the terms and conditions of each competition. The tournament includes over 40 sports competitions and community activities.

Al Dhafra Club confirmed that organizing the tournament stems from its social responsibility and mission to serve the community, promote healthy lifestyles, and embrace talents of all age groups. The club emphasized that the Al Dhafra Ramadan Tournament has become an important sports and community milestone that brings together the people of Al Dhafra in a positive competitive atmosphere, contributes to strengthening the values of sport, teamwork, and social connection, and plays a key role in talent discovery and community sports development.

Al Dhafra first team suffered a 3–2 defeat against Khorfakkan in the match played on Friday evening at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, as part of Round 15 of the ADNOC Pro League.
Al Dhafra made an unconvincing start to the game, lacking focus and cohesion between the lines, which resulted in conceding an early goal in the sixth minute following a defensive error. The situation did not improve after the opener, as Khorfakkan continued to apply pressure and doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute.
After going two goals down, Al Dhafra head coach made a tactical change, introducing Abdullah Al Karbi in place of Leonard. The team gradually regained their balance, and Moroccan striker Karim El Berkaoui reduced the deficit by converting a penalty in the 36th minute, ending the first half with Khorfakkan leading 2–1.
Al Dhafra showed a much-improved performance at the start of the second half, with players displaying clear determination to equalize. The team imposed its dominance and created several chances before earning another penalty, which Souza successfully converted to level the score.
The following minutes witnessed strong challenges and physical encounters from both sides, resulting in several yellow cards. In an effort to boost attacking effectiveness, Al Dhafra coach made a double substitution, bringing on Rayan Yeslem and Abdulrahman Al Susi in place of Khalil Ibrahim and Marcelinho.
Despite Al Dhafra’s relative superiority and continuous attempts to score the winning goal, the match took an unfortunate turn when Khorfakkan were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute, which substitute Lourency converted into the decisive third goal.
Al Dhafra pushed forward in the remaining minutes, backed by strong home support, but the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Following this result, Al Dhafra’s points tally remains at 16, dropping to ninth place, while Khorfakkan raised their total to 18 points, moving up to seventh in the standings.

028847482 altayeb.ali@dfsc.ae

Al Dhafra Club first football team will look to get back to winning form when they host Khorfakkan at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed on Friday at 5:25 PM, in an ADNOC Pro League encounter.

The hosts enter the match determined to bounce back and reconnect with their supporters after going three consecutive matches without a victory. Despite the recent results, Al Dhafra continue to enjoy strong backing from their fans, who regularly transform the stands of Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium into a formidable home advantage.

Preparation for the fixture has been intensive, with high morale across the squad and full participation in training sessions, including players returning from injury. Head coach Željko Petrović has focused on fine-tuning the team’s tactical approach and ensuring full readiness for the challenge, supported by close involvement from the club’s board and coordinated efforts by the supporters’ association, underlining the importance of this stage of the season.

Khorfakkan, however, arrive with clear survival ambitions and will not be easy opponents, as they push to move away from the relegation zone. Their motivation to secure points in the battle for safety sets the stage for a highly competitive and unpredictable contest.

Al Dhafra currently sit eighth in the standings with 16 points and could move to 19 points and seventh place on a provisional basis. Khorfakkan, meanwhile, are tenth with 15 points, seeking to distance themselves from the lower end of the table.

Montenegrin coach Željko Petrović, head coach of Al Dhafra’s first football team, stressed that his players must fight on the pitch if they want to remain among the clubs competing in the ADNOC Pro League.

Petrović made the remarks during the pre-match press conference for Al Dhafra’s fixture against Khorfakkan, part of Round 15 of the ADNOC Pro League, held on Wednesday evening ahead of Friday’s anticipated clash on February 6, at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra Region, with kick-off scheduled for 5:25 PM.

The Al Dhafra coach highlighted the importance of the match, noting that his team will face a strong opponent whom Al Dhafra defeated 3–2 in the first-leg encounter. However, he pointed out that Khorfakkan have undergone changes at the technical level, which may have brought tactical adjustments to their style of play.

“We are now in a real battle,” Petrović said. “All teams have started winning matches and collecting points, and we are in urgent need of points as well. Since the match is on our home ground, we need soldiers on the pitch, not just players, because securing points at this stage of the season is extremely important.”

He continued: “Staying in the Pro League is our primary objective. If we want to remain in the league, we must collect points, and to do that, we have to fight. If the opponent fights at 100 percent, then we must fight at 130 percent.”

Petrović also emphasized that playing at home leaves no room for excuses, stating: “As long as we are playing in front of our fans, there are no excuses. We must start working seriously from now on to collect points.”

He concluded by calling on Al Dhafra supporters to attend and support the team, stressing that fan support is a crucial factor for the players. He added that he did not want to focus on injuries or player availability, emphasizing that what matters most is that every player who steps onto the pitch gives 100 percent performance, which, in his view, will ensure positive outcomes.

Al Dhafra First Team suffered a 2-0 defeat against Sharjah in the match held as part of Round 14 of the ADNOC Pro League, which took place on Wednesday, January 28, at Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Zayed City, Al Dhafra Region.
Al Dhafra started the match strongly and controlled large periods of the first half, enjoying greater possession and attempting to impose their style of play, while Sharjah relied mainly on counter-attacks. Despite the competitive nature of the half, neither side managed to break the deadlock, and the first half ended in a goalless draw.
The second half began with a similar tempo, as Al Dhafra continued to organize attacks toward Sharjah’s goal, while the visitors intensified their offensive efforts. Sharjah were awarded a penalty early in the second half, but the attempt struck the post and went wide.
In the 69th minute, Al Dhafra head coach made two substitutions, introducing Khalil Al Hammadi in place of Rayan Yaslam and Karim El Berkaoui instead of Abdulrahman Sousa. Following these changes, Al Dhafra increased their attacking intensity and created several dangerous chances, but without success.
Against the run of play, Sharjah opened the scoring through striker Luan Pereira. Al Dhafra made a third substitution in the 83rd minute, bringing on Marcelinho in place of Johan Berg in an attempt to equalize.
The match continued at a high pace until the second minute of stoppage time, when Sharjah added a second goal to seal the victory, after which the referee blew the final whistle.
With this result, Sharjah moved up to seventh place with 17 points, while Al Dhafra dropped to eighth place with 16 points, ahead of the conclusion of the round.

Al Dhafra secured a valuable point away from home after holding Ajman to an exciting draw in the match that concluded the 23th round of the ADNOC Pro League.
The first half was evenly contested overall, with Ajman enjoying a slight advantage through their control of midfield play, while Al Dhafra struggled to build attacks and play out from the back.
The opening period ended in a goalless draw.
Ajman took the lead early in the second half, giving the match a new momentum. Al Dhafra responded by pushing forward in search of an equalizer despite facing difficult circumstances, as Abdullah Al Karbi was forced off due to injury and replaced by Ibrahim Al Hosani. Shortly after, Abdulrahman Al Sousi also left the field injured, making way for Marcelinho.
The technical staff then made a third substitution, introducing Ryan Yislam in place of Zakaria Mohammed.
With Rayan and Marcelinho coming on and the team trailing, Al Dhafra gradually increased their attacking pressure, while Ajman maintained a high level of focus.
As the match neared its conclusion, Brazilian forward Marcelinho stole the spotlight by scoring a dramatic equalizer in the final minute of the additional time with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area, earning Al Dhafra a precious point.
With this result, Al Dhafra moved up to 16 points in seventh place, while Ajman reached 14 points in tenth, before the end of this round.

Al Dhafra Visit Ajman in Key ADNOC Pro League Clash

Al Dhafra’s first football team will travel to face Ajman at Rashid bin Saeed Stadium on Monday at 5:05 PM, in the final round of the first phase of the ADNOC Pro League.

The match carries significant importance for both sides as they aim to secure their positions in the middle of the league table and break the deadlock between them in the standings. Al Dhafra approach the fixture determined to consolidate their place in mid-table as the opening half of the season comes to a close.

Al Dhafra currently sit eighth with 15 points, while Ajman are tenth with 13 points, giving the contest the profile of a crucial “six-point match” with direct implications for league positioning.

Head coach Željko Petrović and his technical staff have focused their preparations on correcting the issues from the previous match against Al Ain, reinforcing positive elements, and addressing the attacking absences of Moroccan forward Karim El Berkaoui and Icelandic striker Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson.

Supporters of the “Al Dhafra Knight” are expected to travel and fill the stands, hoping for a positive result against a determined Ajman side on their home ground.

Petrović Calls for Maximum Focus Ahead of Ajman Clash

Montenegrin coach Željko Petrović, head coach of Al Dhafra Club, has stressed the importance of maintaining the highest levels of concentration in the upcoming clash against Ajman, scheduled for Monday, as part of Round 13 of the ADNOC Pro League.

Petrović made the remarks during the pre-match press conference held on Saturday evening at the media hall of Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, in the presence of Al Dhafra player Marcelinho.

The Al Dhafra coach praised Ajman, noting that the team possesses quality players, particularly in the attacking line, which is characterized by speed and strong creative ability. He urged his players to maintain full focus and discipline throughout the match.

Petrović explained that he is approaching the match without pressure, commending his own team while emphasizing the importance of staying mentally engaged in the game—especially during the first 30 minutes—and avoiding minor mistakes that could prove costly.

He also reaffirmed his full respect for Ajman, stating that Al Dhafra’s objective is to secure victory while continuing to deliver attractive football that reflects the team’s growing development.

Meanwhile, Brazilian forward Marcelinho highlighted the importance of the match in Al Dhafra’s league campaign, anticipating a difficult encounter, particularly as the fixture will be played away from home. He expressed his hope that Al Dhafra supporters will attend the match to provide support and encouragement in what he described as an important fixture for the team.