Earlier this week, as Kalba returned home from their training camp in Europe, Ali Sulaiman, the team director, was asked about their ambitions for the coming season in the Arabian Gulf League.
“Our ambitions for this season do not exceed the dream of surviving and avoiding relegation,” he said. “We know our capabilities and our capabilities are limited, so our goal is survival.”
It was a pretty blunt assessment, even bleak, but not without reason. Since the league turned professional in 2008/09, Kalba have made two appearances in the top flight after winning the second-tier Division One title, but on both occasions, they struggled to put up a fight.
Also see: Team guide on Fujairah
In 2010/11, they were back in Division One after a disappointing start to the campaign, when they managed only four points from their first 11 matches. They put up a valiant effort in the second half of the season and beat teams like Al Ain, Al Wahda and Al Shabab, but it was too little, too late.
Two years later, Kalba earned only one point in their last 10 matches to finish at the bottom of the league table with 11 points from 26 matches. They were the league’s whipping boys, conceding 75 goals.
Can they do any better this time? New coach Vinicius Eutropius certainly believes so.
“I have gone through these tests before, in both Brazil and Portugal, and have succeeded in keeping a number of clubs in the top division,” the Brazilian said.
“So I am not scared. If I was scared, I would not have taken up this job. With due respect to the rest of the teams here, I believe I can succeed with Kalba as well.”
Results in pre-season friendlies have not been heartening – Kalba lost 3-0 to Al Shabab last week – but officials are confident results will improve once the league starts.
Unlike in the past, Kalba have been careful in choosing their foreign players and have added six new Emirati players as well: Ali Abbas from Al Dhafra, Fahad Ahmed from Baniyas, Al Ain’s Sultan Nasser, Khamis Ahmed of Al Nasr, Al Wahda’s Nayef Salem and Ali Sanad from Al Shabab.
Now, the club and their fans will be hoping those investments pay off.
FOREIGN SIGNINGS
Thaer Bawab
A former Real Madrid and Barcelona reserve team player, the Jordanian striker counts Lionel Messi, Xavi, Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho among his former teammates. Bawab’s career graph, however, has seen a very different trajectory, taking him to little-known clubs such as Hospitalet, Alfaro, Moratalla and Gaz Metan Media. He has the experience, though, and that could be crucial for Kalba.
Rafael
Winner of three state championships with Avai, the Brazilian defender was hot property in 2010 with several Italian clubs reportedly interested in his services. He moved to Swiss club Lugano in 2012, but suffered a fractured ankle after just four games and was forced to return home. Rafael, 29, has arrived on the recommendations of coach Vinicius Eutropius and looks a good addition.
Luis Leal
The burly 27-year-old Portugal-born striker having played under Eutropius at Estoril in 2010. Leal is an experienced campaigner with goals for Estoril in the Europa League and he did well for Saudi club Al Ahli last season, scoring seven goals in nine matches.
Danilo Bueno
A versatile midfielder, Bueno was named as the Brazilian Serie B’s best player for the 2008/09 season. His performance invited offers from Italian clubs such as Reggina and Catania, but he chose to go to Tunisian club Etoile instead and scored 24 goals in two seasons for them. If he can match that performance, Kalba fans will be pleased.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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