Portuguese coach Pedro Martinez, Al Gharafa’s coach, expressed his hope to provide the required level during his team’s match scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, at Al Bayt Stadium, against Al Khor, in the opening round of the Qatar Football League / Ooredoo Stars League / for the 2024-2025 season.
Martinez confirmed, in statements today, that his team is ready to play the match after completing an external preparation period in Slovakia, during which it played a number of friendly matches, noting that the focus during the preparation period was on the physical aspect, as the players showed good readiness, but there are injuries to some elements, including Ahmed Al-Janahi and Mohammed Muntari, while the rest of the team’s main pillars will be ready.
Regarding the most prominent candidates for the title this season, the Portuguese coach expected six clubs to compete strongly for the title, namely Al Gharafa, Al Duhail, Al Sadd, Al Wakrah, Al Arabi and Al Rayyan, noting that they have all the ingredients to compete.
He explained that what Al Gharafa achieved in the previous season places all team members in front of the responsibility of doubling their efforts, not only to compete for the league title, but for all tournaments, as everyone will be required to exert their maximum possible effort to achieve the set goals, referring to the match against Al Khor in the first round, where he stressed its importance, describing the competitor as a good team that has distinguished players, including the Ivorian Johan Boli, the Algerian Sofiane Hanni, in addition to the Portuguese defender Ruben Semedo.
For his part, Al Khor coach Abdullah Mubarak highlighted his aspiration for a good start against Al Gharafa, and to present the best level after the team’s promotion from the First Division League, and its return once again to be among the clubs of the /Ooredoo Stars League/.
The coach expected, in statements, that the match will be strong and will witness great rivalry because it will bring together his players with a strong team that is a candidate to compete, after it presented a distinguished level last season, pointing out that the level presented by Al Gharafa last season doubles the responsibility on the Al Khor team, which prepared to compete in the new season through an external camp in Turkey, and the team is now ready for the kick-off.
Mubarak concluded his statements by stressing Al Khor’s aspiration to achieve the best position in the league, and to play all matches with a high fighting spirit in search of victory and obtaining the three points, after the team completed its physical and technical preparations to compete in the new season.