DOHA: Qatar Stars League (QSL) side Al Wakrah have signed a two-year deal with their new coach Jose Mauricio.
The Uruguayan was unveiled at a press conference on Sunday on the club premises. He will manage the QSL side until 2017, club officials said on Sunday.
Club officials Salman Abdul Ghani, Sheikh Nasser bin Hassan Al Thani and Abdullah Saqr were present at the press conference.
During the press conference the new head coach expressed his “joy and happiness about working in Qatar”.
Mauricio said he hoped that it would be a positive experience and that the club will start to thrive next season.
“In order to achieve results, we must go one step at a time,” Mauricio said.
“Teamwork will be central to whether we succeed. The teamwork I speak of is also important off the field, team members, the club management, officials, technical staff and players must all come together and hold the same vision.”
Abdul Ghani said selection of players to play for Al Wakrah will be carried out in conjunction with the new coach.
He said the club remained hopeful of better performances in the coming season.
Sheikh Nasser said the appointment of Mauricio was confirmed after detailed study of the Uruguayan’s “impressive resume”.
“We hope to ring in success when the new season commences,” Sheikh Nasser said. “We wanted change and we have taken the first step to move towards success next season.”
Al Wakrah finished 12th last season.
The new coach has replaced Serbian tactician Goran Tufegdzic.
Mauricio, 45, will first lead the squad at a training camp in Italy, it has been revealed.
The new QSL season kicks off in September.
Al Sadd to play three friendlies during overseas training camp
Al Sadd will play three friendly games during their training camp in Austria. The camp will commence on July 25 and end on August 9.
As of yet the club hasn’t made final decisions on which teams they will face in Europe.
The Wolves will first start basic training on July 1 in Doha with the exception of new star signing Xavi Hernandez who will join the squad later.
El Jaish to train in Austria
El Jaish Sports Club, led by Sabri Lamouchi, announced that the team’s overseas training camp will be held in Austria from July 22.
The training camp will last until August 17, during which time the team will play four friendly matches.
Team manager Rashid Al Kaabi travelled to Austria to finalise arrangements ahead of the team’s arrival.
THE PENINSULA
