The Arabian Gulf League’s imminent return after a three-week break will unleash one of Asia’s strongest playing pools.
Promising talents and established names can be found throughout the competition. Such is the depth of talent that ex-Spain, Sevilla and Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo would not make the list of top-three attackers for 2019/20.
Here, we pick out a leading trio in each key area of the pitch and show you where you can catch them in action from Thursday-Friday.
GOALKEEPERS
KHALED AL SENANI (AL DHAFRA)
The understudy has emerged from the shadows this term.
Al Senani’s second season as permanent No1 goalkeeper has proved to be a roaring success. The 30-year-old, previously back-up to UAE international Ali Khaseif at Al Jazira, has been in roaring form for the surging Western Knights, his division-high 65 saves from 16 run-outs helping them up to a heady sixth.
Next game: Ajman v Al Dhafra – Thursday, 20:15
MAJED NASSER (SHABAB AL AHLI DUBAI CLUB)
Age has, seemingly, calmed one of Asian football’s hottest heads.
Nasser has gone from being labelled “the rock-throwing rebel of the UAE” by illustrious British football magazine FourFourTwo in 2012, to a serene presence at pacesetting Shabab Al Ahli. Could a Whites recall be on the agenda for an evergreen 35-year-old shot stopper who has helped his club concede a league low nine times from 16 matches?
Next game: Bani Yas v Shabab Al Ahli – Friday, 17:30
DARWISH BEN HABIB (HATTA)
Promoted Hatta are one of the AGL’s possession kings – but this doesn’t mean they aren’t grateful to Ben Habib.
The 24-year-old has oozed promise throughout his debut campaign as a top-flight performer. He was, again, required to pull off some sharp stops in the preceding 1-0 win at Ittihad Kalba that propelled the Tornado out of the drop zone.
Next game: Hatta v Al Ain – Thursday, 17:30
(UAE Pro League/Twitter/@Shabab_AlAhliFC).
DEFENDERS
YOUSIF JABER (SHABAB AL AHLI)
Simply put, Jaber has been the heartwarming success story of this term.
Few paid any attention when Shabab Al Ahli brought the veteran ‘home’ and ended a nine-year association with Bani Yas. The left-back has, instead, gone on to notch a team-high five goals, earn a UAE recall after seven years away and score against defending champions Al Hilal in the 2020 AFC Champions League.
Next game: Bani Yas v Shabab Al Ahli – Friday, 17:30
MILOS KOSANOVIC (AL JAZIRA)
The Serbia centre-back has created calm where only chaos previously existed.
Jazira have been cast as the AGL’s flawed entertainers for much of the professional era. Last summer’s call to recruit Kosanovic from Standard Liege has witnessed them now possess the second-toughest rearguard – they had the eighth-leakiest in 2018/19.
Next game: Al Jazira v Khor Fakkan – Friday, 17:30
GLAUBER (AL NASR)
A wave of young talent swept into the UAE’s top flight last summer thanks to changes to the eligibility regulations – Glauber now stands at the forefront of this generation.
The graceful teenage centre-back had not featured for former employers Botafogo, yet is a virtual ever presence for Arabian Gulf Cup winners Al Nasr. A player of immense promise is on the Blue Wave’s books, they must cherish him.
Next game: Al Nasr v Al Wahda – Thursday, 17:30
(UAE Pro League).
MIDFIELDERS
BANDAR AL AHBABI (AL AIN)
Has there been a better player in the Middle East during 2019/20?
A bold shout (especially with Togo’s Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba as a team-mate, more about him later), but not one without merit. Al Ahbabi relentless pace and remarkable accuracy has caused the winger/full-back to notch an astounding 11 assists in 14 AGL run-outs, which is already just one less than 2018/19’s leading figure.
Next game: Hatta v Al Ain – Thursday, 17:30
KHALID BAWAZIR (AL DHAFRA)
There are few richer sights in football than witnessing a talent earmarked for greatness belatedly reach an exalted plain.
Bawazir has built on 2018/19’s breakthrough campaign at Dhafra after fitful spells at Al Wahda and Al Wasl, generating fevered transfer speculation in winter and a recall to last month’s UAE training squad after more than two years away. The inventive playmaker’s tally of five assists and two goals is headlined by a devastating role in December’s 3-1 dismantling of holders Sharjah.
Next game: Ajman v Al Dhafra – Thursday, 20:15
LEE MYUNG-JOO (AL WAHDA)
It may seem premature to hail a defensive midfielder after only four appearances – but this is the least Lee merits.
A winter return for the dominant ex-Al Ain battler has propelled the Clarets up to fourth, seen only one goal conceded during his, perfect, quartet of AGL wins and earned an unbeaten start to the 2020 ACL. His astute partnership with the rejuvenated Khamis Esmail is already envy of the division.
Next game: Al Nasr v Al Wahda – Thursday, 17:30
(UAE Pro League).
ATTACKERS
KODJO FO-DOH LABA
Students of African club football predicted Laba’s profound impact.
But for the uninitiated, this 28-year-old free agent from Morocco’s RS Berkane has rocketed home a leading 17 goals in 15 AGL matches. This punishing ratio of a strike every 78.5 minutes has put plastered up a, relatively, poor Al Ain and heralded the dawning of a true successor to the incomparable Asamoah Gyan.
Next game: Hatta v Al Ain – Thursday, 17:30
IGOR CORONADO
Wild anticipation has engulfed the Sharjah ranks after talisman Coronado returned to the fold.
The reigning AGL Foreign Player of the Year had recorded seven goals and assists in nine games, prior to a December injury which sent the champions’ serene title defence into a tailspin. The Brazilian magician’s mesmerising dribbling, boundless invention and unmatched quality should now be unleashed down the final stretch, making essential viewing.
Next game: Sharjah v Al Wasl – Thursday, 20:15
PENIEL MLAPA (ITTIHAD KALBA)
This is how you create an impression as a foreign signing.
The powerhouse ex-Germany Under-21 centre forward came to Kalba with reputation bolstered from an excellent loan spell at the Eredivisie’s VVV-Venlo. He’s gone on to strike two upon his AGL debut at Al Ain, struck 42.9 per cent of his club’s goals (9/21), donned the captain’s armband and physically shuck the division’s strongest defenders.
Next game: Fujairah v Ittihad Kalba – Friday, 20:15
(UAE Pro League).
