Al Dhafra’s first football team is aiming to strengthen its position in the middle of the ADNOC Pro League standings as the second round of the competition kicks off, when it hosts Sharjah this Wednesday evening at its home ground.

Kick-off is scheduled for 5:15 pm at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, in a match that Al Dhafra players know will be difficult against a strong and experienced opponent in the competition.

Al Dhafra completed its preparations for the match through a series of training sessions following its most recent encounter against Ajman, which ended in a draw, taking the team to 16 points in seventh place in the standings.

The club’s supporters, as well as the technical staff and players, are fully aware that the second round will be more intense and competitive, requiring increased efforts both technically and physically, along with tactical discipline — something head coach Zeljko Petrovic stressed during the pre-match press conference.

Preparations have followed the usual approach, focusing on correcting mistakes, addressing weaknesses, and strengthening teamwork, particularly in the attacking phase.

Al Dhafra will be without several key players for the match, most notably Abdullah Al Karbi and Leonard due to injury. On the other hand, the squad sees the return of Moroccan duo Karim El Berkaoui and Icelandic forward Johann Berg, giving the team a strong boost in attack.

Meanwhile, Sharjah enters the match in high spirits after winning the UAE–Qatar Super Cup at the expense of Al Gharafa, in addition to the improving performances the team has been delivering under Portuguese coach Morais.

Sharjah currently sits tenth with 14 points and is seeking a positive result to enhance its chances in the competition as the second round of the league gets underway.

Wishing Al Dhafra the best in delivering a strong performance and achieving a positive result.