Make or break time for Bani Yas who must beat Emirates Club in basement battle

Matt Jones - Editor 18:52 02/05/2017
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  • It’s make or break time for lowly Bani Yas and Emirates Club today as the Arabian Gulf League’s two bottom sides battle it out with victory of paramount importance.

    It’s win or die for the Sky Blues who will be down if they are defeated at home. Even victory leaves them in a perilous position as they will likely need another three points in their final game of the season at dethroned champions Al Ahli on the final day next week.

    But, for now, Abdulwahab Abdulqadir is focused on a game he said his side have “no choice” but to win.

    “The Emirates match will be a play-off for the team, we have no choice but to win and achieve the three points if we want to keep our hopes to stay in the league,” said the Iraqi.

    Abdulqadir was charged in January with rescuing Bani from a woeful 2016/17 campaign – a far cry from his first stint in charge which saw him lead the Sky Blues to President’s Cup glory in 1992.

    And he has demanded his players show a high level of spirit in today’s match, calling on them to exploit any opportunities that come their way.

    He believes the team are doing well in recent matches but have been unable to grind out victories, highlighted in recent 2-2 draws with Sharjah and Al Nasr in which their opponents grabbed late equalizers.

    “In every game that the team fails to win, it is normal for the psychological state to be down, but soon we go beyond it by preparing the players for the next game,” added the 68-year-old.

    Aside from being on the cusp of dropping out of the UAE’s top flight for the first time since 2010, Abdulqadir has overseen the club’s brightest patch since taking charge – gleaning nine points from eight games.

    Goalkeeper Ahmed Dida, injured in the last match against Al Nasr, is a doubt, but Bani are boosted by the return of talismanic Australian midfielder Mark Milligan, who has missed the last three games.

    Nigerian forward Ezekiel Henty, who has bagged four goals in 10 games since arriving from Russia side Lokomotiv Moscow, said he is ready to give everything in this game.

    “We all know the importance and strength of this match, which is a crossroads for us. We will try to do our best to win and move forward with our goal of staying in the league,” said the 23-year-old.

    Emirates head into the game on the back of a vital 3-2 win against fellow endangered side Ittihad Kalba last time out, a result which catapulted them above today’s opponents.

    Elsewhere today, the battle to stay in the AGL very much tops the agenda with Kalba and Dibba Al Fujairah looking for points against Ahli and Al Wahda respectively that will ease their fears.

    Newly-crowned champions Al Jazira will have a homecoming in front of their own fans as they entertain Al Nasr, while Al Ain go to Sharjah looking for a win as they aim to secure the third and final AFC Champions League qualification spot.

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