Doha: Al Rayyan parted ways with coach Rodolfo Martin Arruabarrena after just eight games into the season as the Argentinian failed to improve the team’s performance.
Rayyan are fourth in the table with 14 points but joint leaders Al Sadd and Al Duhail SC, on 16 points and second-placed Al Sailiya with 15 have played only six matches and the title-chances of the Lions already looked to have taken a beating.
The 5-0 thrashing at the hands of arch-rivals Sadd in September was too bitter a pill to swallow for fans and Saturday’s shock 1-0 defeat against Al Khor proved to be the last straw for Arruabarrena.
“We did not perform well. “It was a tight match we did not fight the ball and did not move the ball well, so we lost. I am not looking for excuses but we played with only one professional player,” said Arruabarrena at the press conference on Saturday and on Sunday after a meeting with the team management he said he was leaving the post.
Under 23 coach Yuri O de Souza will take charge of the side which has three tough matches lined up - against Al Sadd in the QSL Cup next Saturday before they take on Al Gharafa and Al Sailiya in the league.
Meanwhile, Al Arabi also changed their coach as Hatem Al Moaddeb, who was with the Under-23 side, replaced Luka Bonacic.
Arabi, who lost 0-3 to Al Gharafa on Friday are sixth in the table with 12 points.
Source: dohastadiumplusqatar.com