Al Markhiya coach Yousef Adam is hoping that his team’s experience in the QSL Cup pays off when they take on Al Ahli in the QNB Stars League today.
With just one win from seven matches to their credit, it will be a big ask for them to stay in the tournament after being promoted to the top flight this season.
“The QSL Cup matches played during the break enabled us to try out various combinations and test more young players. We now have a team capable of competing with big sides. We’ve prepared well for this match and some players are back after doing national duties,” said Adam.
“In the league this season, we’ve two sets of teams. One group is fighting to be on top and the other is battling to avoid relegation. The tough relegation battle makes the tournament overall exciting,” he added.
Adam knows a thing or two about his rivals Al Ahli, whom he has coached in the past.
“I’m not underestimating Al Alhi, whom I’ve coached. They’re one of the big teams in Qatar and have the potential to finish in the top half of the table. Both sides have more or less same strength and same number of points.
“Our new players (defender Bilal Mohammed and midfielder Anas Mubarak from Al Gharafa) and striker Abdulqadir Ilyas on loan from Al Duhail) are good additions to the squad. Probably the much-experienced Bilal will play his first match for us against Al Ahli.
“I’ll have to see if our main striker from Ghana, Kwame Karikari, is fit to play this game as he just did duty for his country,” he said. 
Al Ahli coach Joaquin Caparros labeled Al Markhiya as a “tricky” side.
 “Again, it’s a difficult game for us because Al Markhiya are a tricky team. And they proved it when we faced off in the QSL Cup recently and we had indeed a tough time. They can cause upsets. They’ve proved that, “ said Caparros, who also praised rival coach Adam.
 “They’ve a good coach in Yousef Adam, who knows the ins and outs of the game in Qatar. He has coached Al Ahli and knows the styles of many of our players. on the competition front, both teams are in the bottom half and looking for three points desperately. That should make this contest interesting.
“This match is going to be our real launch in this season’s QNB Stars League as we’ll hopefully be fielding all four professional players together for the first time. We couldn’t do it because of injuries to them from time to time.”