Al Dhafra FC
Al Dhafra FC (Arabic: نادي الظفرة لكرة القدم) is a professional football club based in Madinat Zayed, United Arab Emirates. As of the 2020–21 season they play in the UAE Arabian Gulf League.[1] Their futsal club participated in AFC Futsal Club Championship.
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| Full name | Al Dhafra Sport & Culture Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Al Fursan Al Gharib (The Western Knights) | ||
| Founded | 2000 | ||
| Ground | Al Dhafra Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,020 | ||
| Owner | Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan | ||
| Manager | Mohammad Kwid | ||
| League | UAE Pro League | ||
| 2019–20 | UAE Pro League, 7th | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
Al Dhafra FC was established in 2000, as part of a policy to promote sports across the country and the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi had no team, so Al Dhafra is the first and only club to be located in the western region.[2] For most of its history the club was classified as a semi-professional club according to the UAE Pro League committee and did not have licenses to compete in the AFC competitions but the team had continued to appeal for a license since qualifying for the UAE President's Cup for the first time in 2019.[3] Around 2020 the club finally obtained their licenses, thus all pro league teams can compete in AFC competitions.[4]
Current squad
First team squad
As of UAE Pro-League:
Reserve U21
| No | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Midfielder | Benjamin Ayim |  Ghana |
| 13 | Midfielder | Ahmed Mahmoud (on loan to Al-Jazira) |  United Arab Emirates |
| 16 | Midfielder | Idriss Mzaouiyani (on loan to Al Ain) |  France |
| 26 | Midfielder | Mohammed Al-Marzouqi | United Arab Emirates |
| 27 | Midfielder | Ibrahim Al-Hammadi | United Arab Emirates |
| 31 | Midfielder | Salaheddine Benchouafi |  Morocco |
| 32 | Midfielder | Hamad Hassan | United Arab Emirates |
| 40 | Midfielder | Mohammed Yousuf | United Arab Emirates |
| 70 | Goalkeeper | Jarah Al-Hammadi | United Arab Emirates |
| 77 | Forward | Zayed Al-Hammadi | United Arab Emirates |
| 93 | Defender | Mohamed Bouherrafa | France |
| 97 | Goalkeeper | Khalil Al-Hammadi | United Arab Emirates |
| 98 | Defender | Mohammed Al-Hammadi | United Arab Emirates |
| 99 | Forward | Hassan Sameh |  Egypt |
Out on loan
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Managers
Mohammad Kwid (2008)- Laurent Banide (2009)
Baltemar Brito (2011)
Džemal Hadžiabdić (2011–12)- Laurent Banide (2012–13)
- Abdullah Mesfer (2013–14)
- Anel Karabeg (2014)
Marin Ion (2014–15)- Mohammad Kwid (2015–18)
Gjoko Hadžievski (2018)
Vuk Rašović (2018–2020)- Aleksandar Veselinović (2020–2021)
- Mohammad Kwid (2021–present)
Pro-League Record
| Season | Div. | Tms. | Pos. | President's Cup | League Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | PL | 12 | 8th | Semi-Finals | Group Stage |
| 2009–10 | PL | 12 | 9th | Quarter-Finals | Group Stage |
| 2010–11 | PL | 12 | 12th | Round of 16 | Group Stage |
| 2011–12 | D1 | 8 | 4th | Round of 16 | — |
| 2012–13 | PL | 14 | 8th | Round of 16 | Group Stage |
| 2013–14 | PL | 14 | 8th | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals |
| 2014–15 | PL | 14 | 11th | Semi-Finals | Group Stage |
| 2015–16 | PL | 14 | 8th | Round of 16 | Group Stage |
| 2016–17 | PL | 14 | 7th | Round of 16 | Group Stage |
| 2017–18 | PL | 12 | 10th | Round of 16 | Group Stage |
| 2018–19 | PL | 14 | 10th | Runner-ups | Group Stage |
| 2019–20a | PL | 14 | 7th | Finalists | Group Stage |
Notes^ 2019–20 UAE football season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates.
Key
- Pos. = Position
- Tms. = Number of teams
- PL = Pro-League
- D1 = UAE Division 1
Honours
- Champions: 2001–02, 2006–07
- Champions: 2012
References
- "Al Dhafra SCC". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- "Al Dhafra History". Al Dhafra. Al Dhafra FC. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- "الظفرة يستأنف ضد عدم منحه ترخيص المحترفين" (in Arabic). البيان. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- "14 نادياً تحصل على الترخيص الآسيوي" (in Arabic). البيان. Retrieved 20 October 2020.