Al Shamal coach Poya Asbhagi spoke to the media ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 16 match against Umm Salal.

“A strong and difficult confrontation awaits us against a very distinguished team. Umm Salal presented good levels and achieved distinguished results this season, and they have many distinguished players with tremendous potential and who are dangerous on goal, and therefore it is necessary that we confront them intelligently.

“I hope that the team would play the match at the same level it showed in the second half during the last Muaither match. We did not perform as expected in the first half in the same match.

“We were not happy with the team’s level in the first half against Muaither, unlike the second half in which the team appeared better,” said Asbhagi.

Al Shamal player Fahd Waad said, “There is no doubt that the match will be difficult in view of the strength of the competitor who are performing at distinguished levels this season, but at the same time we are looking forward to winning and getting three points in order to move away from the danger zone in the league table.

“The coach will work to analyze the opponents in order to develop the appropriate way to face them and achieve the desired goal of the match, which is to win and collect three points.”