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Tribune News Network
DOHA
QNB Stars League side and former champions Al Gharafa Club presented their new coach Bulent Uygun.
The Turkish coach replaced Jean Fernandez after the club parted ways with the Frenchman by mutual consent.
Speaking at a press conference after his unveiling, Al Gharafa's Football Head Mahmoud al Ghazal said Bulent was no stranger to the Qatar league since he had many good seasons with Umm Salal and wished him success.
Replying to a question about the rumours that Al Gharafa would sign players such as Yannick Sajbo, Ismail Mahmoud and Mohammed Montari, Ghazal said club president Sheikh Jassim bin Thamer al Thani had stressed that they had a good mix of youth and experience and they had confidence in them.
"However, we'll certainly need a new player. When we make the choice, we'll announce that and we'll co-ordinate with the new coach, who is happy to be with us and returning to Qatar," said Ghazal.
Bulent expressed his happiness to be working again in Qatar, thanking all those who gave him the opportunity, especially club president Sheikh Jassim. He praised the positive football atmosphere in Qatar, describing it as the land of sports dreams as the country gears up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Al Gharafa will be keen to improve on their seventh place in standings in the QNB Stars League's second phase. They have only 11 points from two wins, four draws and five defeats. They travel to Al Ahli for their 12th-round match on January 12.
The Cheetahs will also be eager to beat Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor in their AFC Champions League play-off in Doha on January 30 and qualify for the tournament proper.
Al Gharafa had recently lifted the QSL Cup by defeating Al Rayyan in the final thus becoming the first team to win the tournament for a second time. They have some Qatari players of high calibre, such as Almahdi Ali, Othman al Yahri and Amro Seraj, in their ranks.
Bulent, who coached Umm Salal during 2013-16, spoke about the team's prospects of reaching the top four in the league.
"Naturally, we've to think in the short and long term. Right now, we'll take it game by game and, at the end of season, we'll reset our priorities. As you know, Al Gharafa have won only two games, and drawn and lost many matches.
"I spoke to the club president about this. I think the league's second phase will be played almost non-stop. We've to adapt towards dealing with this situation. We may strengthen the squad with one or two new players," said Bulent.
Standings (after first leg)
Pos Club Matches Win Lose Draw GF GA GD Points
1 Al Duhail 11 9 0 2 40 16 24 29
2 Al Sadd 11 9 2 0 30 15 15 27
3 Al Rayyan 11 8 2 1 27 17 10 25
4 Al Sailiya 11 6 4 1 25 17 8 19
5 Umm Salal 11 4 3 4 17 16 1 16
6 Al Ahli 11 4 5 2 13 17 -4 14
7 Al Gharafa 11 2 4 5 16 17 -1 11
8 Al Khor 11 3 7 1 12 21 -9 10
9 Al Arabi 11 2 6 3 15 24 -9 9
10 Al Kharaitiyat 11 2 6 3 14 26 -12 9
11 Qatar SC 11 2 7 2 12 24 -12 8
12 Al Markhiya 11 1 6 4 8 19 -11 7
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03/01/2018
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