Abdulsalam Jumaa excited by new Al Dhafra role

Matt Jones - Editor 09:07 27/07/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Jumaa after his final game.

    Former UAE international Abdulsalam Jumaa finally brought the curtain down on an illustrious career this summer and it is perhaps a sign of the man he is that both coaching staff and players at Al Dhafra implored him to take on the position of team manager.

    Jumaa finally hung up his boots at the end of the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season, aged 39. The defensive midfielder earned 49 caps for his country between 1997 and 2010. He enjoyed a stellar career, spending a decade at Al Wahda and five more years across Abu Dhabi at Al Jazira.

    The twilight of his career, four years, has been spent with the Western Knights, a club he has become deeply attached to. Although he had reservations when asked initially to join the backroom staff towards the end of last season,

    Jumaa admits it soon became clear the outcome was inevitable.

    “I thought it was time I stopped. It was a difficult decision to take but I think it’s a good time for me to call it a day,” Jumaa told Sport360 at the club’s Al Zafranah training base in the UAE capital.

    Jumaa has prepared well for his new life in the dugout. He already has his UEFA C Licence and will be taking his B Licence in October.

    “I think they were thinking about it at the end of the last season for me to be team manager. I told them to give me time but they told me they needed me and I respect what they want,” he added. “I wanted to stay close to the team because I love this club. I love the players, they are like brothers for me. And the players also asked me to be with them as a coach or team manager so I promised them I would be.

    “It’s a good job for me. It’s nice because I’ve just retired so I’m that link between players and management. All the players respect me and I hope I can be a good contact between the players and the coaching staff.

    “It will be easier for the coach [Mohamad Kwid] with me here and that’s what he wants. He knew I would stop playing last season and he wanted me to help him in the team.”

    There is excitement building around Dhafra. After an abysmal start to the previous campaign, which saw them win just once in their opening 11 games, they were superb in the second half of the season, losing just three of their next 15, winning eight, to claim eighth spot.

    Despite nearing 40, Jumaa still played in four of the Western Knights’ 26 AGL games. He has known for some time that he wan-ted to stay in football after retiring, and admits he would dearly love to take charge of Dhafra one day.

    “Every time as captain I was with the coach. Even when I was on the bench I tried to help him in a technical way,” said Jumaa. “I really like this guy and I want to help him because he’s helped me a lot, I am happy to be with him. It’s a good time for me to learn from him.

    “Management is something I would like to go into. Perhaps one day I will turn from Abdulsalam the Dhafra player to Abdulsalam the Dhafra manager, Inshallah.”

    Recommended