Newly-promoted Fujairah have parted ways with coach Dzemal Hadziabdic by mutual consent, with veteran Abdulwahab Abdulqadir drafted in immediately as his replacement.
Bosnian Hadziabdic, 61, led the Arabian Gulf League outfit to promotion last term but has been force to end his second spell in charge prematurely because of a family emergency.
Abdulqadir was relieved of his duties at Ajman in May this year after the club decided against renewing his contract, a year on from enjoying a triumphant 2012-13 campaign which saw him named the top flight’s Coach of the Season and ended their 30-year wait for major silverware with the Etisalat Cup (now the Arabian Gulf Cup).
The Iraqi undertook his first training session with Fujairah today (Tuesday, September 2) after signing a one-year deal, with CEO Sultan Al Shara insisting the continuity provided by the Iraqi’s 31-year spell in the UAE leading sides such as Bani Yas and Al Shabab made him the perfect candidate.
He said: “We are all sad to see Dzemal go, but it could not be avoided. He remains part of the club forever.
“Abdulwahab knows the clubs, the players and the football in the UAE. We have a three-year plan to remain in the top flight and we could not risk this by bringing in a coach from abroad.”
Meanwhile, the tradtitional season-opening Arabian Gulf Super Cup match – previously scheduled to kick off at 19:15 on Friday, September 12 – has been postponed with the agreement of both Al Ain and Al Ahli.
It has also been announced at the on-going Pro League Committee Pre-Season Workshop that the 2014-15 AGL campaign will see the introduction of vanishing spray to mark distances for free-kicks and cooling breaks in the 30th and 70th minutes.
