The international break did good things to few clubs in the UAE, especially Al-Jazira Abu Dhabi, who looked fresh and powerful; Sharjah is still perfect, despite an allegedly racist incident taking place in their match against Al-Nasr.
Shabab Balata is looking to keep the Palestinian title in Nablus. The refugee-camp club was searching for experienced footballers to add them in-depth knowledge. They found exactly that, in Ashraf Nu’man and Atef Abu Bilal.
While the Middle East is in an international break, in the West Bank the league continues in full force, as Jabel Mukaber dreams on a first title after a decade.
The Arabian Gulf League fifth matchday has emphasized the current trend in the UAE perfectly: Sharjah and Al-Nasr are playing in fourth gear, while the rest of the league are still in search to find their form.
