Drop test

AL WAKRAH coach Kais Yaakoubi looked disgusted following their defeat against Al Arabi as he heavily criticised his players and briefly summed up his post-match comments, requesting journalists not to ask any questions. He knew it was as good as over for his club as three bottom teams are directly relegated this season from the Qatar Stars League (QSL), with the 11th-placed side seeking its stay through a play-off with runners-up from the second division.

While Muaither and Al Shahaniya look destined to join Wakrah, 11th-placed Khor may still avoid the drop.

Mathematically, Wakrah can still finish 10th and avoid relegation if they win all remaining matches, but it would take a miracle for them to achieve that, considering the former champions could pull off only two victories so far and have only 14 points in their account. Except in the first week, when they were ninth, Wakrah have always been in the drop zone, mostly at the rock bottom.

Muaither and Shahaniya, who both were back in the premier division this season, have 16 and 17 points respectively and are placed above Wakrah.

While Muaither kept faith in French coach Philippe Birol, who won them the Second Division title, Shahaniya tried three coaches. But the contrast ends there as they both look to meet with the same fate.

Both Muaither and Shahaniya can be proud of the job done so far, something the QSL will also be happy about after a promoted Mesaimeer turned out to be an embarrassment for the governing body the previous season, ending up with mere six points and conceding 62 goals.

Muaither and Shahaniya were positive in their approach and, as was evident many a time, they both suffered due to lack of enough competent players. The fact that Shahaniya have managed 11 draws, including against leaders Al Sadd, proves that they were not ready to let things go easily.

Khor are placed 11th, but following their 0-4 defeat against Sadd, coach Jean Fernadez gave a “cent per cent guarantee” to their fans that they would stay in the QSL. Khor, who have always been tough at home, will host Al Arabi, Wakrah and Shahaniya in the next rounds, and the Frenchman will be counting on that.