Al-Balushi: Playing in the starting line-up of the leader requires 200% effort
“6 versus 5” .. the features of “Al Ain 2023” or a step to dispense with the adults
The formation of Al-Ain against Al-Wasl included 6 players whose age did not exceed 23 years.
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The blessed Mahdi.
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Eric Jurgens.
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Kwame Koido.
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The first football team of Al Ain Club concluded the year 2022 with a historic precedent, represented by the participation of six players under the age of 23, as main players against five senior players, and that was in the Al Wasl match that was held last Saturday, within the 12th round of the ADNOC Professional Football League, which ended With a positive 1-1 draw.
It is the first time since Ukrainian coach Sergei Rebrov took over, last year, the leadership of the team, in which he pushes six emerging players into the starting line-up, which opens the door to questions about the importance of this step at the present time, and whether it is to draw the features of the “leader of 2023”, and to rely on it. On the young players in the coming period, or a step to dispense with the old players?
During the Al-Wasl match, coach Rebrov pushed the hexagon: Khaled Al-Balushi - 23 years old, Kwame Koidu - 22 years old, Rafael Antonio - 22 years old, Eric Jurigens - 21 years old, Al-Mahdi Al-Mubarak - 21 years old, and Jontas Santos - 21 years old, and it was remarkable that the latter participated in the first Once this season, at the expense of Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko, who came on as a substitute in the final minutes of the match.
The six players performed very well in the face of Al Wasl and won praise from the fans, especially since they were highly fit and had quick runs that constituted a clear step in the goal of the guests, most notably the breakthroughs of the Brazilian Jontas, and they also succeeded in reducing the danger of the guests' attack led by the duo Fabio Lima and Ali Saleh. In the end, however, the team fell into a draw.
The match against Al Wasl was an opportunity for young players to prove their abilities at a time when some experienced and foreign players do not present the level expected of them in the campaign to defend the league title, and the opportunity coincided with the approaching opening of the winter transfer window, at a time when some fans are calling for the management of their club to need Support the team with players of heavy caliber to correct the course.
For his part, Al-Ain international player Khaled Al-Balushi (23 years), who was the oldest among the six players in that match, said that his explanation for what happened is that the coach has a policy based on the principle that there is no big and small player, and that whoever strives He is the one who plays, stressing that the opportunity in Al Ain Club is not easy, and that it only comes with double diligence, and he explained: “The matter is not with 100% diligence, but rather with 200% diligence, because the opportunity is difficult in a club the size of Al Ain.”
Al-Balushi confirmed to Emirates Today that the participation of six young players in the Al-Wasl match contributes to giving reassurance about the future of Al-Ain, especially since the team appeared at a good level and was in control, and continued: "We dominated the match and performed well, but luck was not on our side." .
Al Balushi pointed out that young players always need to play alongside experienced players and seize these opportunities.
It is noteworthy that the largest number of young players pushed by coach Sergei Rebrov in the league matches last season was five players, specifically in the last round of last season against Sharjah, and at that time the team had won the title in its favour, but the involvement of six players at once as main players against Al Wasl, Last Saturday, he may have something to come after, especially since the team is not doing its best, as it tied in the last three rounds against Sharjah, Bani Yas and Al Wasl, which caused it to drop to seventh place with 19 points, seven points behind the leaders.
• During Al Wasl's last match, coach Rebrov pushed Khaled Al Balushi (23 years old), Kwame (22 years old), Antonio (22 years old), Eric (21 years old), Al Mahdi (21 years old) and Santos (21 years old) into the hexagon.
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