Opposition Focus: Al-Ittihad Kalba SC

Words: ACFC Media

Tuesday 28 November 2017

GET the lowdown on Al-Ittihad Kalba SC as we focus on Auckland City FC's build-up to the FIFA Club World Cup Playoff with UAE champions Al Jazira on Wednesday 6 December.

OPPOSITION INFO:
FOUNDED: 1972
FULL NAME: Ittihad Kalba Sports & Cultural Club
STADIUM: Ittihad Kalba Club Stadium
CAPACITY: 8,500
COACH: Goran Tufegdzic (SRB)

MATCH INFO:
DATE: Wednesday 29 November 2017 (Thursday 30 November 2017)
KICK OFF: 4.30pm local time (1.30am NZST)
VENUE: Dubai Sports City Complex, UAE
COMPETITION: Friendly Match

MATCH STATS:
UAE ARABIAN PRO LEAGUE 2016/17 SEASON
FINAL POSITION: 13th (Relegated)
PL: 26
W: 4
D: 7
L: 15
GF: 30
GA: 44
PTS: 19
GD: -14

UAE DIVISION ONE 2017/18 SEASON
CURRENT POSITION: 2nd
PL: 4
W: 2
D: 2
L: 0
GF: 8
GA: 4
PTS: 8
GD: +4

FAST FACTS
Al-Ittihad Kalba SC were relegated from the UAE top flight last season after finishing 13th in the 14-team competition. Only 1 point separated Al-Ittihad Kalba SC from fellow strugglers Dibba Al-Fujairah and Emirates.

The club has won seven UAE Division One titles in 1979–80, 1988-89, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2013-14.

Coach Goran Tufegdžić, 46, is a former Yugoslavia U-23 international and coached the Kuwait national team from 2009 to 2013. He coached in Serbia with FK Mladi Radnik in two different spells.

Al-Ittihad Kalba SC have two Brazilian players on their books in former Internacional striker Thiago Santos and midfielder Gustavo Marmentini.

Ends