The new QSL season is set to kick off on the 15th of September with all 14 clubs looking forward to taking part in the action. Ahead of the big kick off QSL online will be previewing the sides, assessing their chances and highlighting some key players who could make a difference for their perspective sides. Today we are looking at the two newly promoted sides in Al Shahania and Muaither along with Al Kharaitiyat and Al Wakrah who just avoided the drop last term. .jpg)
Al Shahania
Newly promoted Al Shahania head into the new QSL season hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2014/2015 campaign when they ended up relegated. The club also made a change of management in the summer with Spanish coach Miguel Lotina making way for Fathi Al Jabal.
The Tunisian tactician is no stranger to managing in the region, and has taken charge at a host of teams in Saudi Arabia. His most noticeable spell was in charge of Al Fateh between 2008 and 2014, during which he won both the Saudi league title and the Saudi Super Cup. Shahania will be hoping his experience can aid the side in beating the drop.
It’s also been a busy summer on the transfer front with Shahania signing a host of local and foreign players. The Algerian duo of Mohamed Tiaïba and Khaled Gourmi have joined the side and along with Iranian midfielder Mehrdad Pooladi and former Real Madrid man Álvaro Mejía make up the foreign quota with the club.
Domestically, the stand out signing for Shahania has been the return of goalkeeper Khalifah Al-Ammari from Al Rayyan and the young stopper will be charged with rallying the Oryxes defensive ranks.
Shahania are set for a tough QSL season, and look likely to be battling relegation come the end of the season, however with an experienced tactitian in Fathi Al Jabal the Orxyes have a coach who is used to exceeding expectations and could be safe come the end of the season.
Shahania open up their QSL season against defending champions Al Rayyan on Saturday the 17th of September.
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Muaither
New boys Muaiter will also be heading into their second ever QSL season with the hope of avoiding the drop back into the Qatar Gas League. The side enjoyed a strong preseason tour in Bosnia and picked up three important wins against local opposition, which will aid the side ahead of the new season.
Muaither have kept the faith with French coach Philippe Birol who won the Qatar Gas league last term. South American players Bruno Aguiar and Matías Mier have joined Jordanian striker Mahmoud Za'tara as the clubs foreign players. A fourth and final foreign player is expected to sign before the start of the season.
Domestically Muaither have turned to seasoned QSL players for experience. Adel Lamy and Mohammed Yasser have been recruited from Al Arabi and Al Kharaitiyat respectively. Their experience in the league will be vital if the falcons are to beat the drop at the first time of asking.
It promises to be a tough season for Muaiter but if the new signings can intergrate quickly, along with the smart local buys Muaither could survive the dreaded drop to the Qatar Gas League.
Muaither start their QSL campaign against Lekhwiya on Saturday the 17th of September.
Al Kharaitiyat
The Thunders just missed out on relegation to the Qatar Gas league by the skin of their teeth last term and will be eager to avoid a repeat performance this season.
Head coach Amir Osim has stayed on with the side and has overseen a significant change in the squad. Kharaitiyat have made a total of nine signings in the summer, including a complete overhauled of its professional ranks. Moroccan midfielder Abdelmoula Berrabeh, Congolese striker Jeremy Bokila along with former Ajman player Idris Fotouhi have all joined the side as well as Brazilian defender Domingos being retained for another season.
Whilst in terms of local talent, Amir Osim’s side has been busy picking up six local players to improve their squad. Al Kharaitiyat has picked up three players from fellow QSL side Lekhwiya with attacker Lassina Diaby, defender Khaled Radhwan and youth prospect Adel Bader. Experienced defender Abdulrahman Mesbeh formally of Al Ahli fitted has also signed a one year deal with the side.
Kharaitiyat also raided the two relegated sides to bolster their squad ahead of the new season. Striker Mousa Allaq has been secured from Qatar Sports Club along with left back Saoud Nasser who represented Meisameer last term.
With so many new players being integrated into the side, Kharaitiyat may have a tough start to the QSL season. However with Amir Osim they have a seasoned tactitian who knows how to survive in the QSL, with an improvement in quality on the pitch Kharaitiyat can realistically expect to push for a mid-table finish.
Kharaitiyat start their QSL season with an away match against Al Sadd on Friday the 16th of September.
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Al Wakrah
Al Wakrah endured a tough season last term, eventually confirming their safety from the QSL with a week to spare. It was a tough learning curve for head coach Mauricio Larriera in his first season and he will fully expect his squad to push on this term.Wakrah enjoyed a successful training camp in Turkey, notching up a few friendly wins against local sides, and have returned to Doha to focus on the start of the QSL season.
The club where handed a bitter blow over the summer when last season’s top scorer Sasha rejected a new contact and moved to Arabian Gulf League side Emirates. However Wakrah moved quickly to find a replacement, announcing the signing of Uruguayan striker Pablo Olivera on a one year deal. The side from the south of Qatar will be looking for a further professional player to join Iraqi defender Ali Rehema and Moroccan midfielder Mouhcine Moutouali and Olivera at the club.
Domestically it has been quiet for the Blue Waves with the club yet to announce any new local players to join the team. That certainly is a concern going into the new campaign and Larriera will be hoping his side can push on and avoid the relegation dog fight, like the previous seasons.
Al Wakrah starts their QSL season off with a tricky away tie against El Jaish on Sunday the 18th of September.
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