Champions Al Wahda and Hickersberger part ways

ABU DHABI — After winning their fourth league title, Al Wahda parted ways with head coach Josef ‘Pepi’ Hickersberger, the Austrian manager confirmed on Sunday.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

Published: Tue 18 May 2010, 12:29 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:25 AM

“The club’s management claimed that I have received offer from Qatari club while this is not true,” he said.

“My contract has expired and nobody spoke to me about the club’s intentions to renew it.

“In fact I have received offer from other UAE clubs ‘most probably Al Ahli’ but nothing has been finalised so far,” he confirmed.

In the meantime, Al Wahda officials declined to comment arguing that they are right now busy with the title’s celebrations.

“It’s premature to talk about any recruitments at this moment. Let’s finish the work in hand and we will have enough time to answer all your questions,” said Al Wahda top official.

Meanwhile, Al Wahda Brazilian midfielder Andre Pinga has already moved to Al Ahli after his negotiations with the Maroons were interrupted with mouthwatering offer from the Dubai club.

In Dubai, Al Shabab’s Brazilian coach Paulo Bonamigo won a vote of confidence despite the poor form of the team which have hardly survived a possible relegation to the lower division.

The club management said Bonamigo should be given time to prove his worth as one season is not enough to make fair judgment.

Al Wasl, winners of the recent AGCC Club Championship, have also ended their relationship with Alexandre Guimaraes. No details have been released about the expected manager for the Yellows or the next destination of the Brazilian-born coach.