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Tribune News NetworkDohaAl Arabi coach Younes Ali is more determined than ever to kick off the QSL season against Qatar Sports Club at the Education City Stadium on Tuesday.Coming off a successful last season, Ali stressed the importance of a good start ahead of their opening match. “Early matches are difficult. We don’t know what to expect but we are keen to gain three points that’ll give us the advantage in the long league,” Younes said on Monday at the pre-match press conference.Al Arabi finished fourth last season, behind champions Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al Wakrah. It was their best finish in recent years. While talking about their preparations, Younes said: “I’m satisfied with what the players presented during our camp. The atmosphere was positive and we need to bring that positivity to the games now.”Qatar SC, ninth last season, will also be keen to register success early on in the league. “Our preparations went off well and everyone at the management level and the players did their best to make the training period a success both during the camp in Spain and in Doha,” Qatar SC coach Yousef Safri said.The signing of Moroccan Badr Benoun has strengthened their team, but he is a doubtful starter for today’s match. “The preparation period for the new season was strong and positive. During our training camp in Spain we played good friendly matches and gained great benefit. We then completed our preparations in Doha with increased pace and are ready for our first match in the new season of the QNB Stars League. We aim to make a good result for a positive start,” Qatar SC player Mohammed Salem said.Al Gharafa take on Al SailiyaIn the second match of the day, Al Gharafa take on Al Sailiya at the Khalifa International Stadium. Gharafa coach Andrea Stramacceoni said the team was dealing with a few injuries, notably to Abdullah Al Saei and Othman Al Yahri. However, the Cheetahs have Algerian star Yacine Brahimi in their ranks and the Italian is very happy with that.“I’m happy to have Yacine Brahimi with us. Another experienced player, Uzbek Islom Tukhtakhujaev, joined us recently. We hope the new additions lead us to wins,” he said.Al Sailiya, who escaped relegation last time, will be aiming for an improved performance this season. “Matches against Gharafa are always competitive. We need to be fully focused so that we can utilise all our capabilities and achieve victory,” said Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi.Al Gharafa are one of the most prominent clubs which gives opportunities to young players from the age groups, and is banking on them this season to provide with the best and lead the team towards competing for the title.Al Sailiya have Senegalese Serigne ‘Kara’ Mbodji, and the team has signed Argentinian defender Sergio Javier Vittor and Greek Giannis Fetfatzidis (from Al Khor), in addition to the return of Iraqi Mohanad Ali and Tunisian Bilal Saidani.
