Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira
With eyes on the Amir Cup final which is set to be played on May 16 at the newly-constructed Al Wakrah Stadium, Qatar’s football giants Al Sadd and Al Duhail have vowed to go all out for victories as they take on their respective opponents in the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament today.
Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Al Sadd will square off with Al Gharafa at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium after defending champions Al Duhail meet Al Shahania in today’s first Amir Cup quarter-final at the same venue.
A resolute Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira, who won the Best-Coach-of-the-Year honour at the QFA Awards on Tuesday night, said playing the Amir Cup final at Qatar 2022 World Cup venue is his team’s dream, and to achieve that his players will give their best effort.
“It will be a different game than the league matches – it will be a knockout clash, and we will give our best,” Ferreira said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“Al Gharafa are a formidable side. They have good players and a good coach. The match is going to be tough,” said the seasoned coach, adding that his team’s morale is high as they begin their campaign in Amir Cup.
“The Al Sadd players are fresh from winning the league and they are now full of spirit to play in the Amir’s Cup. We could have five games coming up in 20 days and this needs great preparations. We at Al Sadd have to play domestically and in Asia as well, and this is not easy for the team and players,” said Ferreira.
“Our aim is to play at the (new) Al Wakrah Stadium, after having played the final at the Khalifa Stadium before. We want to reach the final and meet His Highness the Amir.”
Al Duhail eye Al Shahania scalp
Al Duhail coach Rui Faria said his team was prepared to take on Al Shahania in today’s first quarter-final at their home turf.
“We are ready for the quarter-finals. It is an important game and we have prepared accordingly,” Faria said yesterday.
“We are facing a difficult side under a very good coach. We want a victory in the match to reach the semi-finals, and we will have to be focused,” he said.
Faria, who took over as Al Duhail’s head coach in January, said the players have started adapting with the new ideas.
“I am very happy that the players have begun absorbing the new ideas in performance. The coaches sometimes need a season or two, but so far things are going well.”
Meanwhile, Al Duhail’s star midfielder Assim Madibo said playing the Amir Cup final at Al Wakrah Stadium is his team’s main goal.
“There is a different motivation, playing at the Amir Cup. We are dreaming about playing the Amir Cup final,” Madibo said.
“Our first test is Al Shahania and we are looking forward to a winning performance,” he added.
The quarter-finals will continue tomorrow with Al Ahli facing Al Sailiya before Al Arabi will clash against Al Rayyan in the last quarter-final.
