Al Gharafa's dutch star Wesley Sneijder shoots to score.
DOHA: Dutch star Wesley Sneijder scored twice as former QNB Stars League (QSL) champions Al Gharafa warmed up for the new season with a 2-0 win against Oman’s Al Nasr yesterday.
At Al Saada Stadium in Salalah, Sneijder scored off a penalty in the 54th minute before striking his second goal in the 75th minute to earn the Qatari team their first win in the friendly tournament which also features Egypt’s Ismaily and Tunisian side SC Sfaxien.
Coach Christian Gourcuff’s men were fresh from a pre-season training camp in the Netherlands and proved to be at their best against the Omani counterparts during the opening match of the tournament yesterday.
Al Gharafa were in the Netherlands from July 1 to 18 and the French tactician used the time in Europe to work on his starting line-up for the new season which kicks off on August 4.
Al Gharafa will take on Qatar SC at the Khalifa International Stadium in the opening match of the new QSL season. The match will kick off at 5.35 pm.
Meanwhile, Qatari giants Al Sadd are also in the process of warming up for the new season.
Barca legend Xavi Hernandez-led Wolves are taking part in a training camp in Austria.
Last Thursday, Al Sadd lost to German club MSV Duisburg 4-1 where Jugartha Hamroun scored the only goal for the Qatari team.
Coach Jesualdo Ferreira’s men returned to training on Saturday with lengthy physical fitness drills in the morning session. The training continued yesterday, ahead of their next friendly match against Slovenian side Radoeli which will take place today, the club said on Twitter yesterday.
Earlier this month, Al Sadd brought in former Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabriel Fernandez with the hope of strengthening their outfit. The Wolves are looking to topple title holders Al Duhail to capture the League title this season and will open their campaign against Al Kharaitiyat on August 5 at the Khalifa International Stadium.
