By Sports Reporter/Doha
Al Gharafa Sports Club has officially signed Qatari defender Almahdi Ali Mukhtar from Al Sadd for three seasons.
The player signed the contract in the presence of the Team Manager Saoud Fath and the Club Media Officer Taha Al Muhazaa.
Saoud Fath spoke about the new signing and said: “Al Mahdi is an international player with great potential.” He pointed out that the delay in revealing the deal was due to the fact that the player was with the Qatar National Team training in Europe.
Almahdi expressed his thanks to Al Gharafa Sports Club’s management and said. “I hope to live up to my new teams hopes, especially after the confidence they have shown in me. I would like thank Al Sadd, the technical staff and the officials for the period I spent with them as I have many fond memories and left on good terms.”
The Qatari added that he is looking forward winning titles: “Al Gharafa is a big name in Qatar and I happy to join them, my ambition is to win more titles with them. I think there will be some good developments on the horizon for the fans.”
Our main aim is to stay in
Qatar Stars League: Nouri
Mesaimeer Sports Club attacking midfielder Mohammad Nouri has said he relishes the challenge of playing at the highest level in Qatar. This will be the first time that Mesaimeer will take part in the QSL.
“The Qatar Stars League has many big names such as Al Sadd’s Spanish superstar Xavi. Also the Spanish striker Sergio Garcia at Al Rayyan and the Frenchman Rod Fanny at Al Arabi, this shows you that this is a league which can attract great players. Mesaimeer will therefore have a tough task on their hands but my team-mates and I are ready and happy to be part of this great league,” said Nouri.
The Iranian added that his mission with his foreign team-mates is to guide and improve the local players. “Football is a team sport and we all have to perform well during the new season. As someone with many years of experience, I hope that I and the other foreign signings can help our teammates play at their optimum level,” he added.
Nouri stressed that Mesaimeer is in need of more hard work and that the players must train hard. “Our first game is against Al Sadd, which is a very strong team in the QSL. I hope to gain a positive and satisfactory result at the beginning of the season. The mission is very difficult but there is nothing is impossible in football.”
Al Arabi capable of competing for title: Fanny
Al Arabi Sports Club new signing Rod Fanny spoke about the well organised media day saying that it was a great opportunity to communicate with his teammates as well as players from other clubs. “The atmosphere is amazing, the QSL Media Day has showed me how organised and professional this league is and I am feeling now that we are getting closer to the league fixtures. I am excited and ready to participate with my team in the league. I also would like to add that this Media Day is similar to what I have experienced in the European Leagues.”
The French defender spoke about his expectations for the new season: “The atmosphere within Al Arabi is very calm as we had a very successful preparation camp in both Italy and Germany. We played friendly matches and the team is developing in the right way.”
Fanny was asked if he felt Arabi was capable of competing for the league title. “Yes indeed. Al Arabi is capable of winning but it requires hard work and great effort. I am very optimistic with the team. We have a great coach and I think it will be a good year for us.”
Six teams can win QSL this season: Lamouchi
El Jaish Sports Club Head Coach Sabri Lamouchi has said as many as six teams are capable of winning the QSL title this season. Lamouchi stressed on the fact that there are lots of clubs, which will compete for the title including indeed Lekhwiya, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, Al Arabi and Al Gharafa. He added: “There will be six teams competing for the top spots in the league this season but from my point of view, I believe that Al Sadd and Lekhwiya have the superiority due to the stability in their foreign players beside the huge experience they both possess.”
On his ambitions with the team for the new season, he said: “We have a very good chance as the players are accepting my technical philosophy. We have to play each and every game with strength and spirit, assuring that the league is going to be very tough.
Al Gharafa signed Almahdi Ali from Al Sadd for three seasons.
