Former Al Jazira and Al Nasr head coach Walter Zenga has refuted suggestions he has accepted the vacant managerial position at Arabian Gulf League basement boys Al Shaab.
Reports had surfaced that Zenga, sacked by Serie A side Sampdoria a little over a week ago, had agreed to take over the newly-promoted Commandos after Tarek Al Ashry left the post earlier this month.
Zenga, who represented Italy at the 1990 World Cup, was pictured on Twitter at Dubai Airport on Wednesday, fueling rumours of a return, but he insists they are not true. “I am not interested in any Arabian Gulf League position,” Zenga told Sport360° on Saturday.
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“I live in the UAE, my family is here. It is not true that I will be the new Al Shaab manager, I’m being serious. I am not interested and I have not been approached by any club.”
Shaab shared the points with fellow AGL new boys Dibba Al Fujairah in a 1-1 draw last night, Amro Elsoulia opening the scoring for them before Bakary Kone equalised.
Elsewhere, Emirates Club climbed to fourth after beating Sharjah 3-0, Wilmar Jordan, Mohammad Malalla and Abdulla Ali all netting.
Al Wasl also won 3-0, beating Al Dhafra through Fabio de Lima’s fine effort and Edgar Bruno’s second half brace to go sixth.
Meanwhile, two of Zenga’s former teams clash in Abu Dhabi today as Jazira welcome Nasr.
Under fire Pride of Abu Dhabi boss Abel Braga is without star striker Mirko Vucinic for the rest of the season after he suffered a cruciate knee injury but the Brazilian is buoyed by welcoming back players from the UAE’s various national teams.
In another exciting clash, fifth-placed Bani Yas welcome champions Al Ain. Luis Garcia is without defenisve trio Thamer Mohammed, Mohamed Jaber and Abdul Salam Mohammed but he has called on his team to pay back the fans’ loyalty.
He said: “I have strong belief in my team and it is time for them to show the result of our hard work. This is the time to pay back our fans with a great result.”