We negotiated with 7 coaches, including Mosimane, before signing Moraes

The Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sharjah Sports Club, Obaid Al Shamsi, revealed in response to a question about the controversy that accompanied the process of contracting with Portuguese coach Jose Moraes, coming from Al Wahda Club, to take over the team’s training, succeeding Serbian coach Milos, that Sharjah did not enter into any negotiations with Moraes until after the latter terminated his contract with Al Wahda Club, stressing that their goal in managing the club is to return the team to the winning path, explaining that despite the loss to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the sixth round of the AFC Champions League for clubs. Elite, but Sharjah showed an advanced technical level, indicating that their focus in Sharjah will be towards the expected match against Shabab Al-Ahly, the day after tomorrow, in the Super Cup.

Al Shamsi added to Emirates Today that “Sharjah Club, after the end of the relationship with former coach Milos, opened channels of communication and negotiation with about six or seven coaches, including a Spaniard, a Frenchman, and the third, South African Pitso Mosimane, and Moraes was not among them, but we began negotiations with him later, after terminating his contract with his former club.”

Al Shamsi confirmed that Moraes, after his relationship with Al Wahda Club ended, was the best choice, as he was a coach in the UAE League, especially since he achieved good results. He added, “Sharjah’s goal is to focus in the next stage on three basic matters, which are the Super Cup against Shabab Al-Ahly scheduled for Saturday, the Elite League, and the Emirati-Qatari Super Cup.”

Regarding the technical level that Sharjah showed against Al Hilal Saudi Arabia, during the match that ended with the latter’s victory with a clean goal in the sixth round of the AFC Champions League for elite clubs, Al Shamsi explained: “Regardless of the result of the match, the performance that the team presented against Al Hilal Saudi Arabia made them reassured that the team was moving in the right direction, compared to the level it showed in its first match under the leadership of the new coach Jose Moraes.”

Regarding whether Sharjah needs reinforcement in its ranks during the winter transfer period expected next January, Al Shamsi said: “The team’s coach, Moraes, asked to be given a two-week opportunity to evaluate the team’s matters and the extent of its needs, and then decide whether the team needs reinforcement or not, because these are technical matters, and the first and last decision on them is for the coach.”

Regarding Sharjah’s chance to qualify for the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League for elite clubs, Al Shamsi explained that “Sharjah is still among the eight teams in the AFC Champions League.”