Khalba Secures Pro League Survival; Coach Ghazi Al-Shammari Calls for Early Rebuild and Quality Signings
Khalba secures Pro League survival after late-season results, with coach Ghazi Al-Shammari urging immediate planning and stronger recruitment to improve the club’s standing next season.
Khalba confirmed its place in the UAE Pro League despite a defeat to Al Nasr in the final rounds, with results elsewhere ensuring the club finishes 11th on 24 points and clear of the relegation fight. Coach Ghazi Al-Shammari described the achievement as the primary objective of the campaign and said the team’s concentrated response to a difficult period made the outcome possible. He warned, however, that survival must be the springboard for a more ambitious plan rather than an end in itself.
Khalba Secures Safety Despite Final-Day Loss
Khalba finished the campaign in 11th place with 24 points, officially safe from relegation after other results fell in the club’s favour. The club’s final-match defeat to Al Nasr did not alter its status because rivals chasing survival—Dibba (20), Al Bataeh (20) and Al Dhafra (19)—were unable to close the gap. The clear margin allows Khalba to begin planning with certainty rather than uncertainty about its top-flight future.
Coach Al-Shammari Reflects on a Difficult Season
Ghazi Al-Shammari acknowledged that Khalba passed through a challenging stretch when the team entered a “complex set of calculations” to avoid the drop. He praised the technical staff and players for maintaining focus under pressure and delivering the necessary results to secure safety. Al-Shammari framed the achievement as collective and strategic, crediting calm decision-making and disciplined preparation in crucial matches.
Board Consultations and Technical Review Underway
The coach confirmed multiple meetings have taken place with the club’s board and that a formal technical report will be presented following the season’s conclusion. Those discussions, Al-Shammari said, clarified the squad’s requirements and the operational changes needed to strengthen the team. He indicated that the feedback loop between coaching staff and administrators has made the club’s priorities for the off-season increasingly clear.
Squad Upgrades Identified as Priority
Al-Shammari insisted Khalba needs “a different calibre” of players to impact results and move beyond mere survival, particularly given anticipated changes and tougher competition next season. The coach signalled a targeted recruitment approach focused on a limited number of high-impact signings rather than broad turnover. He stressed that identifying players who can make an immediate difference in key positions will be central to the summer plan.
Ambition, Stability and Early Preparation Emphasised
The coach argued that Khalba as a club, city and fan base deserves higher ambitions than fighting relegation and that achieving those ambitions requires early, sustained work. He urged the administration to adopt a longer-term vision that combines financial backing, scouting improvements and clear technical direction. Al-Shammari highlighted stability—both in the coaching structure and in player contracts—as a cornerstone for improvement and sustained competitiveness.
Supporters and Management Asked to Back a New Vision
Al-Shammari appealed to Khalba’s supporters and the club board to translate the relief of survival into concrete support for a renewed project, including earlier planning cycles and decisive transfer moves. He said the club has the foundational elements to compete more effectively but must convert those into strategic action before the next campaign begins. The message was clear: survival must be parlayed into structure, investment and ambition.
Khalba’s immediate task is to turn post-season analysis into an actionable roadmap that addresses personnel gaps, aligns club resources and sets measurable objectives for the next Pro League season.