Al Markhiya assistant coach Henk Duut spoke to the media ahead of their 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League match against Al Shamal postponed from Week 9.

“The technical staff have worked to prepare the players through daily training and are confident that they will be at their best in the match to achieve victory.

“Regarding the players’ physical readiness through the efforts made during the past five days, I think we have a good fitness coach and the team in the fitness aspect I think is good, as evidenced by the fact that our team played in its last match with 10 players against 11 players and appeared in good fitness during 97 minutes. And I think that this aspect will not be of concern to us in the next match, as the fitness coach is able to prepare the players physically for the upcoming games.

“We are not worried about our position (eighth) in the table because we are confident of bettering it. We were not lucky in the last three matches and we presented a good level,” said Duut.

Al Markhiya player Mohammed Nasser Al Mannai said, “The team’s preparations for the postponed match against Al Shamal are going on well and we will go into the game to present a better level that will lead us to victory and gain full points.

“We presented a good level against Umm Salal, but our team was affected by the expulsion of player Khaled Radwan and we lost the game.

“The return of Ayoub Azzi from suspension will give the team a strong boost. At the same time, we will also be affected by the absence of Khaled Radwan.”