Al-Sadd launch preseason training for the 2017-18 campaign

The Al-Sadd football first team launched its preparations for the 2017-18 season with the first preseason training session on Thursday evening at the club’s training pitch. In addition to the players, representatives of the club management also attended, such as head of football Mohammed Ghanem Al-Ali, sporting director Mohammed Gholam and first team manager Abdullah Al-Breik.

Sporting director Mohammed Gholam spoke to the club website about the meeting with the players, which was held before the training session. He emphasised on the importance of the current period and the challenges that lie ahead both at home and in Asia. He also made it clear that ideal preparation requires a great desire from the players to benefit physically and technically from day one of training.

Mohammed Gholam said: “During the meeting, we also laid out the objectives and priorities that we aim to fulfil in the upcoming period.”

The sporting director also welcomed new signing Yasser Abubakr, who joined the club on a three-year contract, in addition to Luca Squinzani, the new goalkeeping coach and Musab Khodr, who returned to the club after a loan stint at Al-Rayyan.

The Wolves will continue training at the club facilities daily under the supervision of assistant coach Hesham Zahed, until July 20 when the squad is set to travel to Austria for the preseason camp which will last until the 5th of August.

Al-Sadd are set to play three friendly matches during the Austrian camp. The first will be played against Goztepe (Turkey) on July 26 while the second match is to be played on July 30 against a yet to be named opponent. On August 3, the team will play its final preseason friendly against Italian side Bologna.

The team will miss the services of Salem Al-Hajri, Meshaal Al-Shammari, Meshaal Barsham and Fahad Shanin, who will be away with the Qatar U23 national team for the duration of the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers. They will join the squad in Austria on July 24.

First team head coach Jesualdo Ferreira has put in place a group training programme for the primary phase in Doha before turning up the heat with an intense period of preparations abroad.

Ferreira is set to join the team in Austria with the rest of his assistants on July 20.

Team captain Xavi Hernandez will also join the team in Austria, alongside Baghdad Bounedjah, Jugurtha Hamroun, Pedro and the new signing Khoukhi Boualem.