Doha: Al Gharafa head coach Pedro Martins of Portugal affirmed Thursday that his squad are ready to face Al Shahaniya in the opening round of the Doha Bank Stars League, slated for Friday.

According to Qatar News Agency, Martins stressed at the pre-match press conference that his team had prepared well for the new season, noting that they underwent intensive preparations during their training camp in Slovakia, in addition to their preparations in Doha. He highlighted Al Gharafa's physical, technical, and tactical readiness, while emphasizing that the match against Al Shahaniya would not be an easy one, particularly given the experience of its coach and the fact that the club has retained most of its squad from last season.

Martins stated that his team would enter the new season with high ambitions, aiming to compete for all available titles, foremost among them the league championship, Qatar Cup, and His Highness the Amir Cup, in addition to the AFC Champions League Elite. He emphasized that achieving these objectives would require the team to win every match.

For his part, Al Shahaniya head coach Younes Ali affirmed during the press conference that his team were ready for the encounter with Al Gharafa, expressing hope that his side would enjoy a successful start to their season campaign. He mentioned that the team were seeking to develop their own style of play based on character and collective spirit, stressing the importance of cooperation and relying on the squad as a whole.

Younes Ali also expressed his ambition to develop the team from week to another and deliver improved performances in every match, in a manner befitting Al Shahaniya and their supporters, contributing to achieving the best possible results.