Fossati extends stay with Al Rayyan

QSL champions Al Rayyan have confirmed that head coach Jorge Fossati has signed a new three-year deal to stay at the club till the 2017-2018 season, according to the club’s official website. Fossati, who is no stranger to football in Qatar after stints with Al Sadd and the Qatar national team, led Al Rayyan to their first QSL title in 21 years this term after being hired last summer.
Fossati was crowned the QSL coach of the year on Saturday evening, after helping the Lions to the QSL title with five games to spare.

Al Sadd set for Austria training camp
QSL side Al Sadd have confirmed their preseason training plans ahead of the start of the QSL season.
Al Sadd’s head of football Mohamed Ghanem al-Ali confirmed on Al Sadd’s website that the squad will be meeting in Doha on July 10, before travelling to their training camp on July 15 in Austria.
al-Ali also confirmed a second training camp for the side which will be held in Al Ain, UAE, a few weeks before the start of the QSL season.
In a wide ranging interview with the website, he said that Sadd will be sticking with a youth policy despite missing out on a trophy this term.
“Despite being in a bad situation in terms of the results, we brought out players who we will depend on in the future, starting from next season - players like Salem al-Hajri, Meshaal al-Shammari, Nasser al-Nasr, Musab Khodr and Hamza al-Sanhaji. We will continue with this policy, which Al Sadd has been leading with.”
Al Sadd finished the domestic season without any honours, after being edged out of the Emir Cup on penalties by Lekhwiya. The QSL season is set to start on the September 15.

Gharafa to travel to Portugal for camp
Meanwhile, Al Gharafa will be travelling to Lisbon, Portugal, for the preseason training.
The decision was made by the team’s Portuguese head coach Pedro Caixinia. The Cheetahs have also lined up three friendly games for their training camp which will be held from July 18-August 7.
First up Gharafa will take on a Benfica B side on the July 13, before taking on Liga Nos side Estoril Praia on July 22. Gharafa are also set to face Belenenses, however, the details of the match are yet to be confirmed.