Yesterday evening, the draw of the Arab Gulf League and Gulf Cup competitions was withdrawn for the new sports season 2020-2021, at the Ministry of Health in Dubai, under the slogan: “Thanks to our first line of defense”, with the participation of the representatives of the 14 clubs, through the remote communication technology system.
The draw came as shocking to Khorfakkan Club, who will meet Al Ain in the first round of the Arab Gulf Cup, which starts on September 3, and meet in the first week of the League Championship.
The Arab Gulf Cup draw placed Al Wahda in a mass confrontation with Al Wasl, while Baniyas play with Hatta, Al-Ahly youth against Al Dhafra, and Al-Jazira with Union Kalba, while Ajman meets Fujairah.
The draw for the league, which will start on September 9, put the island in a difficult confrontation with victory at the last stadium, in the first week of the competition, while the defending champion Sharjah plays with Fujairah, and Al-Wahda meets with Hatta, Al-Wasl with Baniyas, and Kalba Union with youth Al-Ahly, And Al Ain with Khor Fakkan, and Al Dhafra against Ajman.
The lottery ceremony honored the first line of defense, in appreciation of the efforts they made during the Corona pandemic period, and their dedication to providing health and safety for all members of society.
The League of Professionals has established a new system for the Arab Gulf Cup competition, the matches of which will be held from two front-and-back and knock-out matches, to reach the semi-finals, while the final of one match will be held on a neutral stadium determined by the Professional League afterwards.
The lottery witnessed a clear mechanism that was announced before the withdrawal process, as: Al-Ahly youth, Al-Wahda, Al-Ain, Al-Jazirah, Baniyas, and Ajman were placed in the first group, while the second group included clubs: Al-Wasl, Al-Dhafra, Kalba Union, Fujairah , Khorfakkan, Hatta.
The lottery victory (the title holder of the last version of the Arab Gulf Cup), and Sharjah (champion of the last version of the League Championship) played in the first round.
The winner will wait for the winner from Ajman and Fujairah to face him in the quarter-finals, as the first match will take place at his stadium, while the second match will take place outside his home land, while Sharjah will meet the winner from Al Wasl and Al Wahda in the second round, where the king will play the first match at his stadium.
The winner of the Al-Ain and Khorfakkan meeting will face the winner of the Al-Ahly and Al-Dhafra youth match, and the finalist who faces Bani Yas Hatta will meet the winner of the Al-Jazira match and the Union of Kalba.
At the level of the league draw, teams were divided according to participation in the AFC Champions League for the 2020 season, mass attendance and TV viewing during the previous seasons, as Sharjah, Al-Ahly Youth, Al-Wahda and Al-Ain were placed in Group A, Al-Jazeera and Al-Nasr and Al-Wasl in Group Two, Ajman and Bani Yas and Al Dhafra The third group, while the fourth and last group included: Hatta, Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Ittihad Kalba.
In the second round of the Arab Gulf League, two high-caliber encounters are featured, as Al-Ahly youth hosts Al Ain, and Al-Wahda hosts guests in Sharjah, while the rest of the round's gatherings include: Khorfakkan and Al-Nasr, Al-Jazeera and Al-Dhafra, Ajman and Union Kalba, Hatta and Al-Wasl, Fujairah and Bani Yas.
Mubarak: Amendments to the Arab Gulf Cup will give the championship "momentum"
The manager of the Sharjah team, Ahmed Mubarak, described the changes that occurred in the Arab Gulf Cup championship, as it will give the competition a boost, as it will be held in the knockout system, which will make all the teams looking to deal strongly with this competition since the first round.
He said, in press statements, that "Sharjah is looking forward to a strong season and achieving distinguished results that are worthy of the aspirations and aspirations of the club's fans."
He explained: "Sharjah's preparations started last week, and we are waiting for the rest of the foreign players to arrive so that the team can complete." He pointed out that "the preparations were laid well by coach Abdulaziz Al-Anbari, and there is strong support from the administration, to qualify the team with the image required for the league championship, as well as the Arab Gulf Cup." ».
Friday: difficult season for everyone
Al-Wahda team manager, Abdel Salam Jumaa, confirmed that the contract with Dutch coach Mark Fota came after a conviction by the management of his full knowledge of Al-Annabi, as he worked in the club's academy last season.
He said: "Fota is one of the coaches who enjoy a high tactical and technical ability, and the club expects a lot of work from him, to achieve our local and Asian ambitions."
Abdul Salam Jumaa praised the lottery ceremony and the efforts made by the Professional League to prepare for the new season, pointing out that the coming season will witness a great difficulty for all teams, because the stoppage has exceeded the four months, a period that requires significant work from all.
The first round clashes in the Arab Gulf Cup
Baniyas x Hatta.
Al Ahly Youth × Al Dhafra.
Al-Jazeera × Union of Kalba.
Unit x Al-Wasl.
Al Ain x Khorfakkan.
Ajman x Fujairah.
The first round matches in the Arab Gulf League
Unit x Hatta.
Victory x the island.
Al Wasl x Baniyas.
Kalba Union × Al Ahly Youth.
Al Ain x Khorfakkan.
Fujairah x Sharjah.
Al Dhafra × Ajman.