Al-Shorta receive good news ahead of East Bengal FC clash

Iraq's Al-Shorta received good news after their first training session in India, preparing for their match against East Bengal FC in the second round of the AFC Champions League. The Green Lantern hopes to continue their positive results and achieve their second victory in the tournament during the match scheduled for next Tuesday.

Al-Shorta began their AFC Champions League 2 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Omani side Al-Seeb, in the group stage that also includes Al-Hussein Irbid from Jordan and East Bengal FC from India. They are looking to enhance their chances of qualification by securing another win away from home.

Sources close to the team stated: "Al-Shorta held their first training session in India yesterday, after arriving in the country last Friday. Coach Sami Al-Trabelsi decided to give the players a day off before starting recovery training, which also included ball work. The coaching staff has set up a training program to prepare for the match against East Bengal FC, with the intensity increasing starting today, especially since the team chose to arrive in India early to acclimatize to the conditions."

The source added: "The team has shown good readiness for the upcoming match, with no signs of fatigue among the players, especially Mohanad Ali (Mimi), who recently returned to training. His return represents the most important news for Al-Shorta fans and their coach, especially since the team currently lacks a striker capable of exploiting opportunities and converting them into goals. Al-Shorta's scoring rate has declined in his absence, as the team has faced offensive difficulties since the beginning of the season, which is prompting the coaching staff to search for solutions ahead of the AFC Champions League."

Sources indicate: "Hussein Ali's inclusion as a starter against East Bengal FC is expected to be difficult, especially since coach Sami Al-Trabelsi wants to gradually reintegrate the striker into match situations, avoiding risking him so as not to lose him again in upcoming competitions. Al-Shorta is awaiting several important matches, as they look to correct their course in the Iraq Stars League and return strongly to the title race, after falling behind due to a decline in results and fluctuating performances in the local competition."

Sources have confirmed: "Coach Sami Al-Trabelsi is inclined to keep one of the strikers, Leonel Ateba and Fidelis Kokou, on the bench, especially since the duo did not perform at the required level in the previous match against Al Talaba. Therefore, the coach wants to make a change in the attacking line and is expected to rely on Ateba, while giving Hussein Ali offensive roles that bring him closer to the goal, hoping to score, similar to what happened in the previous match against Al-Seeb of Oman."

Police drew 0-0 with Al Talaba in a top match of the ninth round of the Iraq Stars League, which took place at the Al-Madina International Stadium in Baghdad, amidst a large crowd. The encounter did not reach the expected level, as it was the first match for both teams after the international break.