Doha, August 20 (QNA) - Al Gharafa head coach Pedro Martins of Portugal affirmed Thursday that his squad are ready to face Al Shahaniya in the opening round of the Doha Bank Stars League, slated for Friday.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Martins stressed that his team had prepared well for the new season, noting that they underwent intensive preparations during their training camp in Slovakia, in addition to its preparations in Doha.
He highlighted Al Gharafa's physical, technical and tactical readiness, while stressing his belief that the match against Al Shahaniya would not be an easy one, particularly given the experience of its coach and the fact that the club has retained most of its squad from last season.
Martins said his team would enter the new season with high ambitions, aiming to compete for all available titles, foremost among them the league championship, Qatar Cup and His Highness the Amir Cup, in addition to the AFC Champions League Elite. He stressed that achieving these objectives would require the team to win every match.
For his part, Al Shahaniya head coach Younes Ali affirmed during the press conference that his team were ready for the encounter with Al Gharafa, expressing hope that his side would enjoy a successful start to their season campaign.
He said the team were seeking to develop their own style of play based on character and collective spirit, stressing the importance of cooperation and relying on the squad as a whole.
Younes Ali also expressed his ambition to develop the team from week to another and deliver improved performances in every match, in a manner befitting Al Shahaniya and their supporters and contributing to achieving the best possible results. (QNA)