Syrian striker Mardik Mardikian (right) who signed a three-year contract with Al Arabi club poses for a picture during the unveiling ceremony in Doha.
Syrian striker Mardik Mardikian who signed a three-year contract with Al Arabi is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Qatar Stars League (QSL).
Mardikian who started his career with the youth team of Syrian club Hutteen in 2009 and graduated to the senior team the same year is not new to Qatar having played with Al Markhiya in the 2015 season.
The striker expressed his joy at the prospects of playing once again in the QSL.
“This is a new challenge for me, and I am looking forward to getting started and helping Al Arabi in the league. I would also like to thank the Al Arabi management for showing their faith in me and offering me a three year contract, Mardikian said while speaking to the local media, following the completion of his move to the Dream Team.
Mardikian , a member of the Syrian national team since 2012, is not new to the region having played for clubs from Jordan, Iraq, Oman and Bahrain.
The attacker has set some personal goals with the side ahead of the new season.
“Personally I am looking to help the team to finish in the best possible way in the league, If I am able to compete for the top scorer award that is a bonus for me” said the 25-year old ,at the press conference which was attended by a host management officials of Al Arabi club.
Mardikian also revealed he consulted a number of people on his move to the QSL.
“Of course of spoke with Mahmoud Al Mawas, who I know from the Syrian national side he told me plenty of good things about Al Arabi and the QSL.”
Mardikian will now begin preseason training with his new team-mates, under the guidance of new coach Kais Yaâkoubi.
Al Arabi have been busy in the transfer market over the last couple of days, confirming a deal with a move for Brazilian playmaker Diego Jardel who is set to sign a contract with the club.
Al Arabi also welcomed Tunisian footballer Ammar Jemal to Doha ahead of a proposed move for the defender.
Jemal, who had previously had played for Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia arrived in Doha and was greeted at the airport by Al Arabi officials.
The club also confirmed that the 30-year old central defender will undergo a medical with the club, ahead of signing a deal with the team.
Meanwhile another QSL side Al Rayyan has formally begun training ahead of the new season.
A host of players from the Lions underwent training drills, under the guidance of the Al Rayyan training staff. A host of players were missing from training, including Sebastian Soria and Rodrigo Tabata, however they are expected to resume training in the coming days.
The long road to fitness will now begin for the Lions who will be looking to pick up a trophy this season after missing out in the last campaign.
Al Rayyan are set to head on their training camp to the Netherlands between the July 20 to August 15.
Another QSL side Umm Salal has announced six deals ahead of the new QSL campaign.
The club confirmed that four players have extended their stay with the club by signing contract extensions.
Goalkeeper Eisa Shaaban, left back Ismail Dahqani and Ali Mohammed are joined by Syrian international striker Mahmoud Al Mawas who has signed a deal to stay with Umm Salal to the summer of 2019.
Elsewhere, Umm Salal revealed that have were able to convince Muaither left-back Mohammed Al Zowayedto sign on the dotted line.
The 27-year old enjoyed a fine season with the relegated side, and his performances convinced Umm Salal management to sign the player.
In other news Umm Salal are also set to complete their quartet of foreign players for the new season.
Earlier in the week the club announced that Moroccan defender Jalal Daoudi has arrived to Doha ahead of a proposed move.
Now, Daoudi could be joined by compatriot Adil Rhaili formally of Kuwait Sports Club who has also arrived in Doha ahead of contract negotiations with the side.
Providing the deals for the Moroccan duo goes through, it will mean that Mahmoud Jaber’s foreign players will be made up of Yannick Sagbo, Mahmoud Al Mawas along with the signings of Jalal Daoudi and Adil Rhaili.
Umm Salal are set to resume training in the coming days as they ramp up preparations for the new QSL campaign.
Newly promoted Qatar SC are not far behind in signing new players as they unveiled four new players as the Kings prepare for their return to the QSL.
Both Mohammed Al Jabri and Jassem Al Hashemi of El Jaish had already been confirmed as Qatar SC players over the weekend; however they were also joined by former Al Arabi midfielders Omar Al Amadi and Abdullah Al Oraimi who also penned deals with the club.
Also present at the signing was Kings club president Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani.
The signing of the quartet means that Qatar SC has signed a total of six local players in the summer transfer window so far. Joining the new players are also striker Fahad Khalfan and keeper Jassem Adel from Al Shahania.
