Bani Yas to unleash Stracqualursi

Denzil Pinto 15:58 16/10/2014
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  • Height advantage: At 1.9m, Denis Stracqualursi is expected to offer plenty of options in the air.

    New Bani Yas striker Denis Strac­qualursi is set to make his debut on Friday against Al Shabab in the Arabian Gulf League, as coach Luis Garcia bids to turn around the club’s fortunes after a frustrating start to the season.

    The Argentine replaced Chile international Carlos Munoz, who moved to AGL champions Al Ahli on transfer deadline day earlier this month.

    Stracqualursi arrives in the UAE capital from Ecuadorian Serie A side Emelec, and Garcia is hoping the former Everton loan player can be the man to kick-start the season.

    “Denis Stracqualursi will play his debut tomorrow,” said Garcia. “He’s not proper match-fit but he will play some part.”

    Standing at 1.9 metres tall, Garcia insists Stracqualursi will offer his team plenty of options.

    The former Getafe coach added: “He’s a good player who is tall and he can give us that aerial strength and [he] is very good with his feet.”

    The Spaniard also confirmed UAE internationals Amer Abdulrahman, Saleh Haboush and Ahmed Ali will return to the squad, having been called up for friendlies against Australia and Uzbekistan.

    “The UAE players will return and play in the match. It’s another league game for us and we have to play this match well,” said Garcia.

    Twelfth in the standings with just three points and no wins in five matches, the 41-year-old acknowl­edged that his team must improve if they have to do well this season.

    He said: “I know the situation is tough but I want to work hard and do my best to sort out this problem. The international break is now over and we must focus on domestic matters.

    “Al Shabab are a strong team, who have done very well so far this season. We have to be careful of their team because we know they are a dangerous side.”

    And he is wary of the opponent’s striking options, with the team pos­sessing Henrique Luvannor and Carlos Villanueva, both scoring three times this season.

    “We really have to be careful of how to deal with their strikers. They have very good players in Luvannor and Villanueva.” 

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