Buoyant Al Nasr take on resilient Kalba in season opener today

Al Nasr and Ittihad Kalba will get the ball rolling as the new season of UAE Pro League explodes into action on Friday.

The first day of the season will feature two matches. The other game will be played between Al Wahda and Ajman at 8:45pm at Al Nahyan Stadium.

Al Nasr finished the last season in the sixth spot, five places above rivals Kalba. Both the clubs are looking for a fresh start.

Serbian head coach Milos Milojevic confirmed that Al Nasr are ready to begin their campaign on a positive note with a win against Kalba at Al Maktoum Stadium.

Milojevic said the team is looking forward to making a strong start, especially with the opening game being played at home and in front of Al Nasr fans.

“The opening match is always challenging, but our objective is to secure all three points and deliver a strong performance in front of our fans at home,” Milojevic said.

“The team had a good pre-season training camp in Austria, where they played four friendly matches of different levels. The camp helped the players improve their fitness and overall performance ahead of the start of the competitive season,” he informed.

“It is important that we remain focused from the first round, as we are looking to turn the positive pre-season preparations into a strong performance and a winning start in the league.”

Al Nasr goalkeeper Ahmed Shambieh also backed the players’ determination to start the season strongly and deliver a successful campaign for the club’s supporters.

“Our objective is to win our opening match at home and deliver a strong performance that makes our fans proud.

“We are aiming for a better and different season, taking it one game at a time as we work towards achieving our ambitions,” Shambieh said.

Al Nasr head into the match against Kalba determined to make a positive start and claim their first three points of the season.

Meanwhile, Kalba are coming into the new season with a new-look as they have bolstered their squad with quite a few signings as they prepare to launch an assault on the title.

Kalba Club roped in left-back Alejandro Vergaz to their squad, as part of the Tigers’ preparations for the 2026-2027 season.

Vergaz’s arrival at Kalba is part of the club’s efforts to strengthen the team and enhance the coaching staff’s options before the start of the new season.

Kalba wished the new signing all the best for his commitment with the team and hoped he will make a valuable contribution and help the club achieve its goals in the upcoming season.

They also bolstered their defence with the signing of French defender Ibrahim Cisse for one season.

The move is to strengthen the squad before the start of the new season. Cisse is likely to play a vital role in the defence as Kalba are notorious for leaking too many goals.

Meanwhile, Al Wahda and Ajman will also look to start the season with a victory.

Al Wahda coach Pericles Chamusca is confident of making a winning start against Ajman, who finished the last season in seventh spot, two behind Al Wahda.

Al Wahda did not finish the last season trophy-less like their counterpart Ajman. They defeated Pro League champions Al Ain in the ADIB Cup.

Buoyant by their victory in the ADIB Cup final, Al Wahda will come into the match with a lot of confidence.

“This is our first match of the season against Ajman and the result will reflect on our preparation during the break.

“I am very happy with what players showed during our pre-season camp in Germany and I have a great trust in players. We are making efforts to develop a strong squad. We are looking forward to starting on a winning note and building success gradually,” said coach Chamusca.

Al Wahda player Alaa Zuhair also expressed his confidence in the squad ahead of their opening match.

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter