The discord enveloping Rashid Stadium risks far more than merely souring Sunday’s Arabian Gulf League trophy presentation.
A shot at historic success next year on an even grander scale may now never occur if Al Ahli and coach Cosmin Olaroiu, as seems increasing likely, part ways.
What should have been a glorious celebration of the Red Knights’ toppling of Al Ain at the top of UAE football has descended into rancour.
The coronation should be just another step on a trophy-laden road rather than representing the end of an era.
The Romanian supremo has seemed to be on a mission to torpedo the good mood, first dropping a bombshell last week about a hitherto unexpected exit, before filling Friday’s pre-match press conference with thinly-veiled
Whatever has caused relations to disintegrate, both parties must come to their senses. They will be worse off without each other. With boundless ambition from the board and a technical staff – apparently – in place to match it, they had every chance next year of bettering 2015’s gallant run to the AFC Champions League final. Destiny is set to go unfulfilled if a premature parting of ways takes place.
Different theories exist for the strained state of affairs.
Rumours of financially-lucrative approaches from the Chinese Super League and China’s national team are floating about, while the imminent demise of Giorgos Donis at Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal has sparked talk of Olaroiu returning to a stamping ground he left in scandal during March 2009.
Similarly, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a side of Ahli’s hunger has simply decided to look elsewhere to make the giant step towards being Asian kings.
Could Olaroiu have approached his Ahli bosses to reveal an offer greater than his reported ¤5.5 million (Dh23m) annual wage packet or lashed out expecting another raise to match last summer’s contract extension to 2018, only to see Ahli call his bluff?
In truth, a partnership borne out of a seismic split from Al Ain during 2013 was perhaps always set to end in an explosive way.
But nobody outside of the inner sanctum at the Rashid could have envisaged the break coming quite so soon.
Suspended prison sentences and record-fines were accrued making the move to Ahli.
But, as Olaroiu – in usual self-aggrandising fashion – has explained, all the trouble was worth it.
A pair of Arabian Gulf Super Cups, two Arabian Gulf League titles, one Arabian Gulf Cup and four progressions to finals have been hoarded during his landmark three-year stint in Dubai.
With a squad which boasts nine members of the UAE roster which gained access to the third-and-final round of World Cup 2018 qualifiers in March and incredible foreign stars such as €17m (Dh71.2m) buy Moussa Sow plus Brazil playmaker Everton Ribeiro, the trophy cabinet should only bulge further on Olaroiu’s expert watch.
All these factors have combined to create a soap opera Sunday against already-relegated Al Shaab.
The intriguing interactions on the podium between the various factions when the UAE’s top prize is handed out promises to illuminate an opaque situation.
