New head coach Abdulwahab Abdulqadir is under no illusions of the challenge he faces at Bani Yas but is optimistic by declaring “nothing is impossible in football”.
The 68-year-old returns for his second stint – 19 years after being in charge for seven seasons between 1991 to 1998 after replacing Jose Gomes, who won just four points in 12 Arabian Gulf League matches.
The Iraqi inherits a squad which sees them rooted to the bottom of the league, seven points away from safety after just one win this season.
The former Fujairah and Ajman supremo has 10 games to beat the drop but insists his players can draw confidence that even struggling teams can claim points against the big clubs.
“I’m very happy to be back again and I know how things work here,” he said at his unveiling yesterday. “I know the position is very difficult and there is a big gap from safety.We will not draw out plans on how many points to gain over a period of time, we will take each game step by step.
“There is no impossible in football. If you look at Al Ain, they are a big club and were expected to win against Bani Yas (drew 1-1) and Emirates (lost 3-2), so it shows that that nothing is impossible.”
Abdulqadir, who won the President’s Cup in 1992 with the Sky Blues, has urged the fans not to lose faith and turn up in numbers in their battle for relegation.
“We need support from the fans. I know it’s not been an easy season but we need them,” he said, who has managed eight clubs in the country since arriving in the UAE in 1983.
“A few weeks ago Al Jazira lost 5-1 against Al Wahda (in the President’s Cup quarter-final) but their fans continued to show their support and we need the same from ours too.”
The duration of his deal has not been disclosed but Jassim Al Shrafa, head of Bani Yas Football Company believes they have the perfect man to steer them to safety.
“We are very satisfied to have him. He has a very good knowledge of football in the UAE and are happy to have him with us,” he said.
“The entire board trusts him and we believe he will do a good job for us.”