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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
Four domestic trophies, AFC Champions League semi-finalist and the best coach this year, Al Sadd’s Jesualdo Ferreira seems to have come to the end of his time in charge of Qatar’s most successful football club after taking charge in 2015.
The Portuguese coach born in Gauteng, South Africa ended a domestic championship drought for the Wolves this season -- leading his team to their 14th Qatar Stars League title and still has the chance to win a back-to-back Emir Cup next month.
Ahead of the team’s final league game of the 2018/19 season against Umm Salal on Saturday, Ferreira revealed he will not renew his contract with the league champions.
“This is the last match for us in the league. We are very happy to win the title, which was our aim from the start of the season.
This is my fifth league title in three different countries and three continents. I am happy to achieve this.
“I will now leave the team at the end of the current season because my contract will end, after a great period spent with one of the best teams in Qatar and Asia. Al Sadd will always remain in my heart. I want to stay in Qatar because my family is happy to live here,” the 72-year-old said.
“As a professional coach, I am extremely happy to win the Qatari league title. This is what I wanted since my arrival here. The league is very tough and I took a long time to prepare a strong team; I am happy with this team,” he added.
Al Sadd last won the title in 2012/13 season and this year went on a rampage across the league losing just one match while dominating across the board. They have scored 94 goals so far this season and against Umm Salal hope to reach the 100-goal mark.
“We are going to play Umm Salal just to enjoy and it’s not going to be an intense game or one of huge importance for the fans. But we want to win and get more points. The players will also want to break more records,” the former FC Porto coach said.
“The team still has a campaign to go through in the Champions League, we want to reach the next stage. We also have three matches in the Emir’s Cup. I want to win this title because I love winning tournaments.”
Also on Saturday, Al Arabi will host league runners-up AL Duhail while Qatar SC will hope to avoid relegation with a win against Al Rayyan who need a win to secure fourth place.
Sami Trabelsi’s Al Sailiya know victory against bottom side Al Kharaitiyat would set them up nicely for fourth if Rayyan loses, while Kharaitiyat need maximum points to have any hope of avoiding the drop.
In other games, Al Ahli host Al Khor while Al Shahaniya take on Al Gharafa.
Doha
Four domestic trophies, AFC Champions League semi-finalist and the best coach this year, Al Sadd’s Jesualdo Ferreira seems to have come to the end of his time in charge of Qatar’s most successful football club after taking charge in 2015.
The Portuguese coach born in Gauteng, South Africa ended a domestic championship drought for the Wolves this season -- leading his team to their 14th Qatar Stars League title and still has the chance to win a back-to-back Emir Cup next month.
Ahead of the team’s final league game of the 2018/19 season against Umm Salal on Saturday, Ferreira revealed he will not renew his contract with the league champions.
“This is the last match for us in the league. We are very happy to win the title, which was our aim from the start of the season.
This is my fifth league title in three different countries and three continents. I am happy to achieve this.
“I will now leave the team at the end of the current season because my contract will end, after a great period spent with one of the best teams in Qatar and Asia. Al Sadd will always remain in my heart. I want to stay in Qatar because my family is happy to live here,” the 72-year-old said.
“As a professional coach, I am extremely happy to win the Qatari league title. This is what I wanted since my arrival here. The league is very tough and I took a long time to prepare a strong team; I am happy with this team,” he added.
Al Sadd last won the title in 2012/13 season and this year went on a rampage across the league losing just one match while dominating across the board. They have scored 94 goals so far this season and against Umm Salal hope to reach the 100-goal mark.
“We are going to play Umm Salal just to enjoy and it’s not going to be an intense game or one of huge importance for the fans. But we want to win and get more points. The players will also want to break more records,” the former FC Porto coach said.
“The team still has a campaign to go through in the Champions League, we want to reach the next stage. We also have three matches in the Emir’s Cup. I want to win this title because I love winning tournaments.”
Also on Saturday, Al Arabi will host league runners-up AL Duhail while Qatar SC will hope to avoid relegation with a win against Al Rayyan who need a win to secure fourth place.
Sami Trabelsi’s Al Sailiya know victory against bottom side Al Kharaitiyat would set them up nicely for fourth if Rayyan loses, while Kharaitiyat need maximum points to have any hope of avoiding the drop.
In other games, Al Ahli host Al Khor while Al Shahaniya take on Al Gharafa.
