Al Markhiya could not just become an exception to retain their place in the top flight after getting promoted. They, however, almost did it. However, they were done in by some administrative mistakes that contributed to the team’s relegation to the Second Division.

Al Markhiya started their league campaign under Qatari coach Yousef Adam with professional players Tijan, Alan Traore, Kwame Karikari and Rebin Solaka. The Oryxes also lined up Qatari players Mesaab Mahmoud, Nasser Al Nasr, Saleh Al Yazidi, Medhath Mustafa and then Anas Mubarak, Bilal Mohammed and Abdulqadir Ilyas.

The results did not go their way and they suffered setbacks one after the other.

Nevertheless, Al Markhiya put up some good displays and showed harmony between the players. But that was not enough to fetch them victories and points.

They also suffered from a lack of efficiency offensively in many matches and that was the main reason for changing two professional players in the winter transfer window. Traore was sent back and Karikari was transferred to Al Arabi.

Interestingly, Karikari excelled with his new team and played an instrumental role in their four-match winning streak towards the end.

Traore and Karikari were replaced with Brazilians Erick de Oliveira and Leonardo de Souza. They signed Al Duhail goalkeeper Mohamed Al Bakri on loan, Ivan Rodrigues and Aden Ali in addition to Yemeni player Ammar Hamsan.

And the team management replaced Yousef with Tunisian Adel Sellimi.

The new efforts too did not give them the desired results and much-needed points.

Al Markhiya paid the price for two administrative mistakes and thus lost six crucial points. They beat Al Sadd in Week 1, but the result was overturned as they fielded an ineligible player (Saleh Al Yahri who was serving suspension).

Then, in Week 18, they defeated Al Gharafa, but that result was also overturned by the Qatar Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee for violating the rule regarding fielding of resident players.

Al Gharafa had lodged a complaint, claiming that the rivals fielded six resident players. The number of resident players to be included in the start list in the QNB Stars League fixtures should not exceed five.

Al Markhiya finished with 13 points from only two wins, seven draws and 13 defeats. They scored 19 goals and conceded 42.

Coach

Al Markhiya appointed Adel Sellimi as their coach till the end of 2017-18 season after parting ways with Qatari coach Yousef Adam following their loss to Al Kharaitiyat in Week 16 of the QNB Stars League on 10th February, 2018.

The Oryxes had started the season under Egyptian coach Ayman Mansour.

The 45-year-old Sellimi has coached some Tunisian clubs and had technically been involved with his national team. During his illustrious career as a striker, Sellimi played for top Tunisian side Club Africain, French club Nantes and German side Freiburg.

Top scorers

1. Mohammed Salah Al Neel           6
2. Kwame Karikari      3
3. Abdulqadir Ilyas & Leonardo Henrique            2

QNB Stars League first phase

QNB Stars League second phase