Belhoul returns to Al Wasl hoping to usher in era of stability

Kenny Laurie 10:39 13/01/2014
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  • On his way out: Al Wasl midfielder Mariano Donda (r) is likely to leave the club.

    Al Wasl welcomed back former chairman Rashid Belhoul to the club on Sunday with the hope of bringing stability to the club.

    The Cheetahs take on Al Ain in the President’s Cup quarter-finals today in Abu Dhabi and will no doubt be buoyed by the swift arrival of the man who was in charge the last time the club enjoyed a league triumph.

    While the new chairman has been revealed, the new board members will be announced later in the week.

    The traumas of 2013 carried over into the New Year on Friday when Abdulla Hareb and his board resigned en masse, stating they had failed to take the club to the heights expected.

    Ex-chairman Hareb was in the position for little under a year and oversaw another period of upheaval and underachievement. Four managers – Guy Lacombe, Eid Baroot, Laurent Banide and Hector Cuper – walked through the door in 2013.

    “We are pleased to announce Belhoul’s return to the club,” an Al Wasl spokesman said. “We had a lot of success the last time he was here between 2002 and 2008. Although the new chairman has been announced, the club won’t know the new board until at least after the Al Ain game."

    While all is seemingly on the mend at the board level, the club is still in trouble on the pitch.

    Star player Mariano Donda and new defender Milan Susak could be on their way out of the club while new signing Juan Emmanuel Culio, formerly of Deportivo La Coruna, will be unable to make his debut today due to some issues with his registration forms.

    Fellow new signing Hassan Zahran, who left Al Dhafra this week on a three-and-a-half year deal, is expected to make his bow.

    Al Wasl face a tough task today in Al Ain, who are managed by last year’s winner Quique Sanchez Flores, who enjoyed success with previous club Al Ahli. The Cheetahs are in a difficult run of form of late.

    Since their 2-1 win over Al Ahli, that broke the latter’s unbeaten start to the season, back in mid-December, Al Wasl have failed to win a single game.

    PRESIDENT'S CUP FIXTURES

    Today

    17:00 Al Thaid v Al Nasr at Sharjah

    17: 05 Al Dhafra v Shabab at Bani Yas

    20:05 Al Ain v Al Wasl at Abu Dhabi

    20:05 Al Wahda v Al Ahli at Al Ain

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