Senegalese striker Makhete Diop to return for fourth season with Al Dhafra

Youssef Kaddioui, the Moroccan midfielder, Bilal Najjarine, the Lebanese defender, and Humam Tariq, the Iraqi forward who was on a six-month loan from Al Ahli, are being released, reports Amith Passela.

Al Dhafra's Makhete Diop, centre, will return to the club for a fourth season but the team did release their remaining three foreign players on Tuesday. Antonie Robertson/The National

Al Dhafra have confirmed Senegalese striker Makhete Diop will remain at the club, but their remaining three foreign players will be released to make way for fresh blood.

Youssef Kaddioui, the Moroccan midfielder, Bilal Najjarine, the Lebanese defender, and Humam Tariq, the Iraqi forward who was on a six-month loan from Al Ahli, are being released.

Diop, 27, who will be in his fourth season at Abu Dhabi’s Western Region club has a contract until July 2016. He topped the club’s scoring charts with 18 league goals in his first season in 2012/13 and 22 the following season.

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He found the net only 12 times this season as the club finished 11th, but management have been impressed enough with the Senegalese forward’s consistent performances to retain his services.

“Diop has performed consistently well and he’s one of the more experienced foreign players in the Arabian Gulf League,” said Khalifa Al Tunaiji, chairman of the club’s board of directors.

“We couldn’t achieve the desired results, but it wasn’t a bad season either. The important thing is that we are still in the top flight and now looking ahead for improvement in the 2015/16 season.

“We have completed evaluating the players and the team’s performances, and are taking necessary steps in rebuilding the squad with some new signings, both foreign and locally.”

Dhafra also renewed their coach Laurent Banide’s contract for another season after the Frenchman took them to the semi-finals of the President’s Cup.

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