Dubai International Handball Club captain Dario Menichetti believes the club’s strong debut in the UAE Premier League shows that they do belong among the elite.
The club broke new ground in the summer by becoming the first expatriate team allowed to play in the previously all-Emirati UAE Premier League and Union Cup competitions.
In their debut Union Cup game last Friday, DIHC pushed current champions Al Ahli close on their home turf, taking an early 4-2 lead before eventually succumbing to a 29-15 defeat.
DIHC’s inclusion into the 2015-16 domestic schedule opened a new chapter on handball in the Emir- ates and Italian Menichetti believes the club are on their way to proving they belong.
Menichetti said: “We are honored to become the first top-division team established by non-UAE nationals. Our objective was to show our potential and enjoy the match. The match was fair and the result is real. We did our best, but it was not enough for the victory. We need to move on, look towards our next game and improve our performance.”
Friday was also a special day for Algerian DIHC player, Jalil Machou. Despite living in the UAE all his life and his father previously coaching Al Nasr, Machou was not allowed to play competitively because he was an expat.
“This is a great moment for us. Competing on the top level is a huge experience. I wish luck to all handball players and teams in the Premier League this season,” said Machou, who scored 11 goals on his league debut.
