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Dubai: Al Wasl clash today with Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraq in their first match in Group B of the 2008 Asian Champions League at the Al Wasl stadium, with a 7:30pm kick-off.
"I do not know much about the Iraqi team, but I sent my assistant to watch them during a warm-up match in Sharjah last week. They are representing Iraqi football which is peculiar with enthusiasm and intensity," said the Al Wasl coach Ze Mario yesterday.
Abdullah Eisa, the Al Wasl skipper, asked the UAE supporters to come to the stadium and back the team in this tough match.
"We are representing the UAE and not Al Wasl club, we hope supporters from all clubs will fill the stadium today" said Eisa.
Will not deceive
Al Wasl - who clinched the double of the President's Cup and league title last season - have began the current season in disastrous fashion, losing six matches to leave them languishing in eighth place with just 18 points.
"The current position of Al Wasl will not deceive us. We know them as one of the strongest clubs in the GCC countries. I know a lot of Al Wasl players, all of them are talented and will make things difficult for us," said the Iraqi coach Hamid Salman.
He added that the match will be difficult for both teams due to the desire of each of them to win the first three points.
Al Quwa Al Jawiya - who are topping their league in Iraq - held a 10-day training camp in Sharjah and played a warm-up match against the Abu Dhabi Police team and won it 4-2.
The tie will be officiated by Saudi ref Khalil Al Ghamdi, while the assistant refs are Mohammad Al Ghamdi and Hamdi Al Qadery.
Al Wasl probables: Majid Naser, Sami Rabea, Abdullah Eisa, Wahid Esmail, Tariq Hasan, Ali Mahmoud, Tariq Darwish, Eisa Ali, Khalid Darwish, Alexander Olivera and Andre Diaz.
Al Quwa Al Jawiya: Wisam Qasid, Ali Hasan, Zuhair Fadil, Azhar Taher, Jasim Sawadi, Mukhalad Ali, Yasir Abdul Mohsin, Muthanna Khalid, Ahmad Eyad, Akram Hashim, Ali Mansour, Ebrahim Kamil, Hamoudy Qazim, Haitham Taher, Haitham Jasim, Ali Abdul Jabar, Hussain Ali, Haydar Rahim.
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