The Al Shaab Sentinel
Squad5 Apr 2027
A falling-out at Al Shaab
Hamad Obaid and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad5 Apr 2027
Real improvement from Rashid Omar at Al Shaab
Form comes and goes; this has not gone. Rashid Omar is 18, and the version of him training now would not have got into the side he was in a year ago.
Squad5 Apr 2027
Words at Al Shaab training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Abdullah Al Shamsi is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout5 Apr 2027
The manager makes an example of Hicham Khaloua
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Loan watch5 Apr 2027
Hamad Hussain counts the days
“I watch every Al Shaab game from here. That says everything about where my head is.” The loan at Al Shabab runs its course, but his heart never made the trip.
Squad5 Apr 2027
Asher Agbinone named in the team of the month
A month is long enough that nobody gets in by accident. Asher Agbinone is in the division's best eleven for it, which is a quieter compliment than an award and a more reliable one.
Market5 Apr 2027
The Hamad Obaid story refuses to die
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Hamad Obaid signs something — a contract at Al Shaab or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The dugout5 Apr 2027
Brahim Sabaouni knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Al Shaab, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Loan watch5 Apr 2027
Youssef Saeed wants to stay at Al Fujairah
“I am playing every week here and I feel like a footballer again.” 25 appearances and 3 goals on loan, and a decision waiting in the summer.
In brief
- The dugout The manager plants his flag on Youssef Hussain
- Loan watch The clock runs down on Ahmed Al Junaibi at Al Fujairah