Our Arabian Gulf League reporter Matt Monaghan decides his picks of the week in the three categories: player, goal and coach of the week.

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Player of the week

The Cheetahs’ Brazilian trio keep on excelling, one of them guaranteed to step up. Forward Caio was the man this week, his brace seeing Wasl come from behind to beat Sharjah 2-1. His second was a peach, smashing in from the edge of the box with a fierce outswinger to move into fifth.

Goal of the week
Boubacar Sanogo (Fujairah)

The Ivory Coast striker was a constant menace against woeful Al Wahda. He excelled when firing in the only goal. Sharp feet earned him an inch of space inside the area while heading away from Hamdan Al Kamali, a beautiful low strike curving into the bottom corner.

Coach of the week
Laurent Banide (Al Dhafra)

The Frenchman must feel at home with the Western Knights. Since beginning his third spell in charge during the winter break, he has added security and belief to a side careering down the standings. On Friday, a two-goal deficit ended in a creditable 2-2 draw against Al Nasr. This salvage job sees Banide’s record stand at one defeat in eight.

Talking points 
Wahda getting just desserts

With each dismal result, Al Wahda’s folly at dispensing with Jose Peseiro grows. This is not to purely chastise ‘technical director’ Sami Al Jaber. But how could any football decision have led to Peseiro’s February exit? The Portuguese led the unfashionable Clarets to second last term, keeping them in the top four for all this. Four defeats in six matches in all competitions have followed since his forced exit. Wahda continue to justify the call. Each loss makes such statements, and the club’s top four hopes, ever-more flimsy.