The countdown to 2021-2022 QNB Stars League has begun even as the clubs are eagerly continuing their preparations for the season’s competitions after returning from their overseas camps, where they sought to achieve maximum technical and physical benefits for the players.

Against this backdrop, we are highlighting the pre-season preparations made by each of the 12 teams.

AL SAILIYA

Despite occupying the ninth place in the league last season, Al Sailiya were able to finish the season well by winning the Ooredoo Cup.

The happy ending last season will undoubtedly be a new beginning for a strong and successful season in which the team will seek to compensate for the failures and achieve new success by returning to the top-four bracket for which they qualified twice since they started playing in the QNB Stars League. They finished fourth in the 2013-2014 season and third in the 2018-19 season, which was their best performance.

It is certain that Al Sailiya will strive vigorously to make up for the failure of last season and will try not only to improve their ranking, but will fight fiercely to return to the top four.

Three new foreign professionals

Al Sailiya retained only two foreign professionals – Iranian Ramin Rezaien and Senegalese Serigne Mbodji, and offloaded Algerian Nadir Belhadj and Brazilian striker Tiago Bezerra.

They recruited three new professionals – Tunisian defender Nassim Hnid, Moroccan midfielder Driss Fettouhi and Norwegian striker Agama Diamond.

Local recruits

Al Sailiya recruited local players, most notably Riyad Nasser (Al Wakrah), Claude Amine, Ahmed Al Menhali (Al Duhail), Fahad Khalfan and Mohammed Salah El Neel (Al Arabi).

Trabelsi for the ninth season

 

For the ninth consecutive season, Tunisian Sami Trabelsi will guide the Al Sailiya team. He took over The Peregrines in the 2013-2014 season.

Al Sailiya restored their confidence in him and, as a coach, he wants to achieve better results with the team.

Tunisia camp

Al Sailiya had their camp in the Tunisian city of Tabarka from 24th July to mid-August.

Start against defending champions

Al Sailiya have a tough task at the start of their league campaign, against defending champions Al Sadd. They will then play promoted side Al Shamal, Al Arabi and Al Duhail in that order in the first four rounds.