Kharaitiyat set for survival after strong second half showing

Al Kharaityat is next side under the spotlight as we look at the progress of the teams in the QSL during the international break. It’s fair to say that the Thunders have had a season of two halves, struggling for the majority of the first half of the season, before finding their form to pull away from the drop-zone during the second half of the campaign.

Currently Al Kharaitiyat is in twelfth place in the QSL standings, four points away from the relegation play-off place. It would certainly take a significant drop off in form for Ahmad Al-Ajlan’s side to end up getting fully pulled into the relegation dog fight.

Kharaitiyat made an unspectacular start to the QSL season, picking up a victory from their opening six QSL games. That form saw Bosnian Amir Osim dismissed immediately, with the Kharaitiyat management eventually settling with Tunisian coach Ahmad Al-Ajlani  to lead the side for the remainder of the season.

Al-Ajlani and his training methods took a few weeks to bed in, but Kharaitiyat seen some changes as the side picked up wins against fellow strugglers Al Wakrah and Muaither along with an eye catching win over Al Gharafa over the turn of the year.  The Thunders struggled again, before stringing an unbeaten month of February which included wins over Al Sailiya, El Jaish and Al Shahania. It would seem that this run has been telling in the survival bid of the side this term.

To date, Al Kharaitiyat has picked up seven wins, four draws and twelve defeats in the league season. Whilst the recent form has been good for the side with three wins in their last five games and this form will be crucial are to avoid the dreaded drop to the Qatar Gas League.  

Realistically Kharaitiyat can avoid the drop if they pick up four points from their remaining three games. First up is an away match against a patchy Al Ahli side, followed by a six pointer against fellow strugglers Muaither and a tie against Al Gharafa to round off the season. Certainly on paper, Kharaitiyat look set for another season in the Qatar Stars League.