# Al Dhafra FC

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Emirati professional football club

"Al Dhafra" redirects here. For the region in the United Arab Emirates, see [Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi](/source/Al_Dhafra%2C_Abu_Dhabi).

Football club

Al Dhafra Full name Al Dhafra Football Club Nicknames Al Fursan Al Gharib (The Western Knights) Founded 2000 Ground Al Dhafra Stadium Capacity 5,020 Owner Hamdan bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Head coach Zeljko Petrovic League UAE Pro League 2024–25 1st of 14 (promoted) Website www.dfsc.ae/dhafra Home colours Away colours

**Al Dhafra FC** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): نادي الظفرة لكرة القدم) is an Emirati professional [football](/source/Association_football) club based in [Madinat Zayed](/source/Madinat_Zayed) that competes in the [UAE First Division League](/source/UAE_First_Division_League).[1]

Their [futsal club](/source/Al_Dhafra_FC_(futsal)) participated in [AFC Futsal Club Championship](/source/AFC_Futsal_Club_Championship).

## History

Al Dhafra FC was established in 2000, as part of a policy to promote sports across the country and the [Al Dhafra](/source/Al_Dhafra%2C_Abu_Dhabi) region of [Abu Dhabi](/source/Emirate_of_Abu_Dhabi) had no team, so Al Dhafra is the first and only club to be located in the western region.[2] For most of its history the club was classified as a semi-professional club according to the UAE Pro League committee and did not have licenses to compete in the AFC competitions but the team had continued to appeal for a license since qualifying for the [UAE President's Cup](/source/UAE_President's_Cup) for the first time in 2019.[3] Around 2020 the club finally obtained their licenses, thus all pro league teams can compete in AFC competitions.[4]

## Honours

- **[President's Cup](/source/UAE_President's_Cup)** - Runners-up (1): [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_UAE_President's_Cup) - Finalist (1): [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_UAE_President's_Cup)

- **[UAE First Division League](/source/UAE_First_Division_League)** - Champions (3): 2001–02, 2006–07, 2024-25

- **[UAE Vice Presidents Cup](/source/UAE_Vice_Presidents_Cup)** - Champions (1): 2012

## Season-by-season record

Season Lvl. Tms. Pos. President's Cup League Cup 2008–09 1 12 8th Semi-Finals First Round 2009–10 9th Quarter-Finals 2010–11 12th Round of 16 2011–12 2 8 4th — 2012–13 1 14 8th First Round 2013–14 Semi-Finals Semi-Finals 2014–15 11th First Round 2015–16 8th Round of 16 2016–17 7th 2017–18 10th 2018–19 Runner-ups 2019–20a 7th Finalists 2020–21 11th Quarter-Finals 2021–22 12th Round of 16 2022–23 14th Quarter-Finals 2023–24 2 16 8th 2024–25 14 1st 2025–26 1 14

**Notes****[^](#ref_a)** 2019–20 UAE football season was cancelled due to the [COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates).

## Players

### Current squad

*As of 18 January 2026*

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under [FIFA eligibility rules](/source/FIFA_eligibility_rules); some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK UAE Mazen Saleh 3 DF BRA Vinicius Serafim 4 DF UAE Firas Al-Khaseebi 5 MF UAE Mansor Al-Harbi 6 DF TOG Ezeckiel Noumonvi 8 MF GHA Zackariah Mohammed 9 MF BRA Jobson 10 MF UAE Khalil Ibrahim 11 FW MAR Mohamed El Khaloui 12 MF UAE Abdullah Fadaq 13 DF MAR Mouhcine Rabja 15 DF UAE Abdullah Al-Karbi 16 FW UAE Zayed Al-Ameri 17 FW MAR Abderahmane Soussi No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF UAE Yousef Ayman 20 DF GHA Leonard Amesimeku 21 MF CMR Rostand Djooh 22 MF UAE Rayan Yaslam 23 DF UAE Ibrahim Al-Hosani 24 DF UAE Sultan Al-Zaabi (on loan from Khor Fakkan) 26 DF UAE Yousef Al-Marzouqi (on loan from Al Jazira) 27 DF UAE Abdulla Idrees (on loan from Al-Nasr) 29 MF IRQ Ibrahim Bayesh 30 GK UAE Abdullah Sultan 31 MF BRA Vittor Richardh 33 FW MAR Karim El Berkaoui 44 GK SYR Amjad Al-Sayed 99 FW BRA Marcelinho

### Reserve team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under [FIFA eligibility rules](/source/FIFA_eligibility_rules); some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 DF SDN Mohamed Haghamd 19 FW SYR Abdullah Batal 28 FW GAM Muhamed Suwareh 39 DF BRA Zé Welinton No. Pos. Nation Player 55 DF UAE Badr Shaheen 66 MF UAE Suhail Al-Ameri 81 GK UAE Abdullah Al-Hosani 86 MF UAE Hamdan Al-Katheeri

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under [FIFA eligibility rules](/source/FIFA_eligibility_rules); some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 77 MF COD Branham Kabala (on loan to Al Hamriyah) No. Pos. Nation Player 80 MF BRA Rodriguinho (on loan to Masfout)

## Coaching staff

Position Staff Head coach Zeljko Petrovic Assistant coach Ahmed Al Hammadi Goalkeeper coach Alexandre Lopes Fitness coach Vacant Analyst Vacant Doctor Salem Mohammed Physiotherapists Vacant Interpreter Vacant Team administrator Khamis Al Mazrouei Team manager Sultan Al Hammadi Technical director Ahmed Kamal Ahmed

## Managerial history

Name Nat. From To Ref. Piet Hamberg 2003 2004 Sebastião Rocha 2005 2006 Ammar Souayah May 2007 November 2007 [5][6] Ayman El Ramadi November 2007 August 2008 [7] Mohammad Kwid September 2008 December 2008 [8] Eid Baroot December 2008 June 2009 [9] Laurent Banide July 2009 February 2010 [10] Slobodan Halilović February 2010 March 2010 Michel Decastel March 2010 November 2010 [11] Alexandre Guimarães November 2010 April 2011 Mohammad Kwid April 2011 June 2011 [12] Baltemar Brito June 2011 December 2011 [13][14] Magdy Mostafa December 2011 May 2012 Džemal Hadžiabdić May 2012 December 2012 [15] Laurent Banide December 2012 April 2013 [16] Abdullah Mesfer April 2013 May 2014 Anel Karabeg May 2014 September 2014 [17] Marin Ion September 2014 January 2015 [18] Laurent Banide January 2015 November 2015 [19] Mohammad Kwid November 2015 January 2018 Gjoko Hadžievski January 2018 May 2018 [20] Vuk Rašović May 2018 September 2020 [21] Mohammad Kwid September 2020 October 2020 [22] Aleksandar Veselinović October 2020 January 2021 Mohammad Kwid January 2021 October 2021 Rogério Micale October 2021 March 2022 [23] Badr Al Idrissi March 2022 May 2022 [24] Nebojša Vignjević July 2022 October 2022 Aleksandar Veselinović October 2022 February 2023 Badr Al Idrissi February 2023 August 2023 Abdullah Mesfer August 2023 November 2023 Paulo Comelli December 2023 February 2024 Alen Horvat March 2024 May 2025 Željko Petrović May 2025 Present

## See also

- [List of football clubs in the United Arab Emirates](/source/List_of_football_clubs_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Al Dhafra SCC"](https://int.soccerway.com/teams/united-arab-emirates/al-dhafra/). *Soccerway*. Perform. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Al Dhafra History"](http://www.dfsc.ae/dhafra/history/a). *Al Dhafra*. Al Dhafra FC. Retrieved 10 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["الظفرة يستأنف ضد عدم منحه ترخيص المحترفين"](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2019-06-28-1.3593165) (in Arabic). البيان. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["14 نادياً تحصل على الترخيص الآسيوي"](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2020-10-20-1.3991047) (in Arabic). البيان. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [التونسي عمار السويح مدرباً للظفرة](https://www.albayan.ae/five-senses/2007-05-24-1.771112)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [الظفرة الاماراتي يقيل مدربه التونسي السويح](https://elaph.com/Web/Sports/2007/11/280980.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [الرمادي: استقلت من الظفرة احتراماً لمهنة التدريب](https://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/2008-08-31-1.176480)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [الظفرة يتعاقد مع السوري قويض لقيادة فريق الكرة](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/2008-09-01-1.670947)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [عيد باروت مدرباً للظفرة محل قويض](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/2008-12-24-1.821893)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [إقالة لوران بانيد مدرب الظفرة](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/2010-02-14-1.219172)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [الظفرة ينهi تعاقده مع السويسري دي كاستال](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/2010-11-24-1.589701)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [السوري القويض مدربا للظفرة الإماراتي](https://elaph.com/Web/Sports/2011/4/644492.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [مساعد مورينيو مدرباً للظفــرة](https://www.emaratalyoum.com/sports/local/2011-06-29-1.406609)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [مساعد مورينيو مدرباً للظفــرة](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/first/2011-12-07-1.1550480)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [الظفرة يقيل حاجي وبانيد بديلاً](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2012-12-06-1.1779860)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [بانيد مدرب الظفرة الجديد يجتمع مع الإدارة واللاعبين اليوم](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2012-12-08-1.1780973)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [خميس المنصوري: 8 لاعبين يغادرون الظفرة](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2014-05-22-1.2127643)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Al Dhafra appoint Marin Ion to replace sacked Karabeg](https://sport360.com/article/football/arabian-gulf-league/26837/al-dhafra-appoint-marin-ion-replace-sacked-karabeg)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [الظفرة الإماراتي يقيل مدربه بانيد ويعين السوري قويض](http://www.alwasatnews.com/news/1051568.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [رحيل قويض عن تدريب الظفرة.. وجوكيكا بديلا](https://al-ain.com/article/aldhafra-koaid-gokika)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Al Dhafra appoint Rasovic](https://gulfnews.com/sport/uae-sport/al-dhafra-appoint-rasovic-1.2220593)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** [نادي الظفرة يتعاقد مع المدرب محمد قويض](https://alnahdanews.com/article/101449)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [البرازيلي ميكالي مدرباً للظفرة خلفاً لقويض](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2021-10-02-1.4260564)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** [الظفرة يقيل ميكالي ويعين المغربي الإدريسي مدرباً للفريق](https://www.albayan.ae/sports/emirates/2022-03-03-1.4382725)

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20140107015219/http://dfsc.ae/) (in Arabic) (archived)

v t e Al Dhafra FC – current squad 1 Al-Harasi 3 Serafim 4 Al-Khaseebi 5 Al-Harbi 6 Noumonvi 8 Zackariah 9 Jobson 10 K. Ibrahim 11 El Khaloui 12 A. Fadaaq 13 Rabja 15 Al-Karbi 16 Al-Ameri 17 Soussi 18 Y. Ayman 19 A. Batal 20 Amesimeku 21 Djooh 22 R. Yaslam 24 Al-Zaabi 26 Al-Marzouqi 27 A. Idrees 23 I. Al-Hosani 28 Suwareh 29 Bayesh 30 A. Sultan 31 Richardh 33 El Berkaoui 39 Zé Welinton 44 Al-Sayed 55 B. Shaheen 81 A. Al-Hosani 96 Al-Katheeri 99 Marcelinho Manager: [[]]

v t e Football teams in UAE UAE Pro League Ajman Al Ain Al Dhafra Al Jazira Al Nasr Al-Sharjah Al Wahda Al Wasl Baniyas Hatta Kalba Khor Fakkan Shabab Al-Ahli United UAE First Division League Al Arabi Al Bataeh Al Dhaid Al-Fujairah Al Hamriyah Al Ittifaq Al Jazirah Al Hamra Al Orooba Dibba Dibba Al Hisn Dubai City Emirates Gulf United Majd Masfout UAE Second Division League Al-Fath AL-Ittihad Al Rams Arabian Falcons Baynounah Forte Virtus Fursan Hispania Gulf United B Legentus Madenat Palm City Precision Royal United B UAE Third Division League AFC Al Arabi B Al-Shahama Dragon City Dubai City B Emerald Falcon Forte Virtus B G-Reds Irish Liver Modern Sport Nova Star Olympic Rimal Al-Sahra TFC United Sport Other clubs Al Madam Al Taawon Elite Falcons Falaj Al Mualla Masafi Mleiha Ras Al Khaimah Defunct clubs Al Dar Al Falah Al Gharbia Al-Hazem Al Hilal Al Nujoom Al-Quwwat Al-Musallaha Al Rimal Al Shaab Al Shabab Al Wathba Atletico Arabia Dubai Fleetwood United Green Herons Inter City HPC Laval Liwa Quattro Regional Sport Support Sporting Sporty PE Sports TFA Zamalek

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Al Dhafra FC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Dhafra_FC) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Dhafra_FC?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.