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Dubai: Defending champions Al Wasl and Al Ahli meet for the first time in the President's Cup final today at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Al Wasl have reached the final eight times and Al Ahli six, but they have never played each other for the title.
The win against Kuwait club in the Asian champions league last Wednesday will be a big boost for Al Wasl before today's final.
"With the win against Kuwait, we recaptured the player's morale and gained a good psychological approach before the Cup final," Al Wasl coach Ze Mario told Gulf News. "Also, we made sure of our injured players and their fitness."
He said that the President's Cup final is different from Asian tournaments.
"Each match has its special tactics. In the Cup final we have to fight from the beginning with all our efforts."
Al Wasl held their last training session yesterday at the Zayed Sports City stadium with the majority of their key players. The only absentee was defender Abdullah Eisa, who is injured.
Shaikh Butti Al Maktoum, the former Al Wasl board of directors' chairman, attended the team's last training session on Saturday and asked the players to do their best to win and return to Dubai with the President's Cup.
'Always optimistic'
"I am always optimistic about your capabilities and I am sure you will treat the final as if it is one minute and not 90 minutes," Shaikh Butti said. "Fight hard and spare no effort in defending the Al Wasl colours and you will be successful."
Shaikh Butti also attended last season's final training session before the Cup final which Al Wasl won 4-1 against Al Ain.
Former Al Wasl greats like Zuhair Bakhit, Naser Khamis, Farouq and Fahd Abdul Rahman also attended the last training session. They encouraged the players to do their best to clinch the title.
Al Wasl will rely on the team's attacking force that includes the Brazilian trio of Andre Diaz, Alexander Olivera and Rogerio Silva, in addition to Mohammad Ennazy.
Al Wasl midfield include gifted players like Khalid Darwish, Eisa Ali, Mohammad Mubarak with wingbacks Tariq Darwish and Tariq Hasan. UAE goalkeeper Majid Naser will be supported by defenders Ali Mahmoud, Waheed Esmail, Khalaf Esmail, Sami Rabea, and Radwan Saleh.
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