Champions Al Wahda eye first win of the season

ABU DHABI — Defending champions Al Wahda will look to get their campaign back on track when they take on promoted club Ittihad Kalba in Week 2 of the Etisalat UAE Pro-League at home at the Al Nahyan Stadium late on Wednesday night.

Published: Thu 2 Sep 2010, 12:07 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:40 AM

Al Wahda, with new coach Romanian Laszlo Boloni at the helm, lost the season-opening Super Cup 1-3 against demoted Emirates. Their UAE Pro-League campaign too got off to a worst possible start with Al Wahda going down to Al Wasl away last week.

Wahda had missed the services if Ismail Matar and Mohammed al Shehhi in the game against Al Wasl, through red cards in the Super Cup.

Boloni’s men will have to address the blip by brushing aside Ittihad Kalba before tougher battles come calling. Wahda take on title contenders Al Jazira in the Capital Derby on September 16. Boloni had coached Al Jazira in 2007.

Al Wahda will be boosted by their new signing Hugo Henrique Asis do Nascimento, who was officially presented by the club on Sunday night.

Hugo played for Brazilian club Gremio before inking a two-year deal with the defending champions. The attacking midfielder started his career with Monterrey in Mexico before playing for Friburguense in Brazil. He joined Jugentue in Brazil before moving to Verdy Tokio in Japan. He came back to the Brazilian league and played with the Corinthians, Germio and Sauo Paulo. Hugo joins compatriots Fernando Baiano and Magrao in the Wahda line-up. Hugo will don the No.80 jersey.

Ittihad Kalba had lost their opening game to Al Sharjah 0-3. Big-spending Al Ahli, who too suffered a reverse in their opening game, host Al Wasl in the other game on Wednesday night. Al Ahli, managed by former Premiership manager David O’Leary, went down 0-2 to Al Dhafra in their opening game.

Meanwhile, Al Jazira, who finished second in the League for a third time running, travel to Sharjah on Thursday, for their second game. They had a brilliant start, blanking Al Nasr 3-0 in their opener at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium last Friday.

In the other game on Thursday, Bani Yas host Al Dhafra.

On Friday, promoted club Dubai FC play host to Al Shabab. Al Ain FC travel to Al Nasr for their second game. Al Ain FC had edged past a spirited Dubai FC 4-3 in their season opener last Saturday.

Kick-off is at 10pm.

james@khaleejtimes.com