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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
After over three months of hibernation, the QNB Stars League will kick-off with Al Gharafa taking on Al Ahli at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Friday.
The Cheetahs since the exit of Pedro Caixinha, towards the end of the last season, have appointed former Olympic Marseille and Al Khor coach Jean Fernandez to put the club in contention for the coveted Falcon Shield a trophy they last won in 2010.
Fernandez who stirred Al Khor away from relegation last term thinks Gharafa are still a work in progress."We are building a team right now with this set of players but that does not stop us from taking three points from every game.
"Our pre-season was good and this year with just 12 teams in the league, I think it is important to start well and take every game as a final."
The Cheetahs finished fifth last season their best league position in the last four seasons and with an eye on breaking the top four, the club brought in attacking midfielder Luis Jimenez who was last seen in the colours of Al Arabi.
Jimenez believes Gharafa have a lot to offer this season."I have seen the quality in our squad and I know we can be great. Personally I am ready to play and give everything on the pitch for the club."
Al Ahli Club on the other hand have had an unstable couple of years. Former coach Yousef Adam was appointed in 2016 to after poor results led to the sack of Zlatko Kranjf1'e8ar in February 2016. Adam delivered, taking the team to 6th place in 2015/16 a feat that proved too much to repeat as Al Ahli could only finish 10th last season. One place ahead of the relegation zone.
The Brigadiers appointed experienced spanish coach Joaquin Caparros in June and the former Deportivo La Coruna of Spain coach is rearing to go in his first managerial stint in the GCC.
f0"I am glad to be working in Qatar with Al Ahli. This country has had many great Spanish players, and I hope we can win trophies at this great club," Caparros said.
"I know Jean Fernandez (AL Gharafa coach), He was coach of Marseille while I managed Deportivo in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. He has a good team in Gharafa, but they are rebuilding just like us. We will take it week by week and hard work will see us go far."
Ghanaian defender John Benson also added that despite Gharafa's pedigree in the league, Ahli have nothing to worry about."We had a great pre-season, and we are set for the task ahead. This is an ideal test for us."
In the other game of the day, the sixth and seventh placed team of the last season Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat will do battle. Kharaitiyat enjoyed a rich run of form towards the end of last season to shrug off relegation while Umm Salal enjoyed a steady campaign.
