Amouta: Gharafa will be tough; absence of 6 players unjustified
Amouta: Gharafa will be tough; absence of 6 players unjustified
05 Nov 2015
Hussein Amouta, Al-Sadd football team coach, has strongly criticized the decision of the Qatar Football Association and the National Teams Committee to call up six Al-Sadd players for the training camp ahead of the AFC U-23 Championship.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference for the Al-Sadd and Al-Gharafa match in Round 8 of the QSL, Amouta said: “Facing Al-Gharafa will be tough and the absence of the six players will make it even more so. I cannot find any justifiable reason for the call-up of these players and their absence during our upcoming match, to prepare for a friendly.”
He added: “This absence is unjustified and this is the first time I am seeing this in football. The national teams committee did not permit us to use any player except the keeper Muhannad and this is not enough. I expect the return of all the players, especially as there is a great need for them in light of our competition for first place and the tough match against Gharafa.”
The coach also went on to say: “The club management worked hard and petitioned the FA more than once because it makes no sense to deprive the players from participating in an official match so that they take part in practice for a friendly.” He pointed out that he does not make justifications and takes full responsibility for the team.
As for the competition for the title and Rayyan moving ahead by a large margin, the Al-Sadd coach said: “We do not look at the results of others. The race still exists and the campaign is long. We just have to work hard and not repeat the mistakes and this is what we seek in the next meeting.” Amouta said that the Korean defender Lee Jung Soo is back in training but his participation in the game is not confirmed yet.
The Moroccan concluded his speech saying: “I keep my head high and I do not put up excuses. I only hope for justice so that the team can perform at its true level with the presence of all the players.”