Tough season for Jaish who failed to reach their potential

El Jaish are the next side under the spotlight as we look at the progress of the teams in the QSL during the 2016/2017 QSL season. It’s safe to say that it’s been a frustrating season for Sabri Lamouchi’s side who were the pace setters in the league before dropping off in the second half, thanks in part to a host of injuries and suspensions for the side.

The 2016/2017 QSL season started so well for El Jaish, boosted by their exploits in the AFC Champions League, the soldiers started the campaign well before their rivals and that certainly contributed to their early success. Nine games into the season and Jaish were leading the standings, notching eight victories in the process and playing a brand of exciting football.

This period of Jaish dominance was epitomized in the sides 4-2 win over Umm Salal in the fifth round of the QSL season. Sabri Lamouchi’s boys were simply too strong for Umm Salal and inspired by hat-trick hero Romarinho brushed aside Umm Salal with ease.




​However a narrow 2-1 defeat to bitter rivals Lekhwiya kick started a ten game streak in the league which saw the soldiers only pick up three victories.  This run certainly curtailed Jaish’s title ambitions as they slipped out of the race for the QSL falcon shield. More frustrating for El Jaish was the host of long term injuries they picked up during the run coupled with suspensions which severely depleted the side.

Come January, and El Jaish did move to bolster their ranks with the loan signings of Sayaf Al-Korbi and Majdi Siddiq from Al Sailiya. However the duo failed t to make a real impact for the side in the second half of the season.

 Jaish recovered slightly in February and picked up seven points from a possible 12 in the month, slowly showing the form that led them to lead the way in the QSL standings during the start of the season.  However this all changed following the news came that the club is set to merge with Lekhwiya to form the Duhail, the team dropped off losing their final three games of the campaign.

This was shown clearly in their 5-1 defeat to Lekhwiya, in which Jaish failed to show up and put in a lackluster display. Now with the clubs future confirmed, El Jaish players and management have a nervy summer ahead waiting on their next destination in the QSL.