Micho (right) greets his players: Al-Merrikh FC.
Al-Merrikh SC director Nader Khalil has downplayed the Sudanese team’s losing start to the Mauritanian Super D1’s second half, saying the team was on track.
He spoke to Al-Merrikh’s media after the Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic team’s 2-1 loss to league leaders FC Nouadhibou on Sunday. He attributed the home defeat to injuries of key players for the club which sits in ninth place, 10 points adrift of FC Nouadhibou.
"We faced pre-match challenges of the trio Musa Kante, Gedi Fatkon, and Faisal being exposed to various injuries, but the team is coping with the situation with plenty of options, which was never available before," he said.
Khalil also faulted officiation as having contributed to the defeat, adding that they would lodge an official complaint to the Mauritanian Football Federation.
"We will send a request to the Mauritanian Federation to consider referees in the Nawadibo match, backed by a video showing footage and refereeing decisions raising doubts," he added.
Al-Merrikh and Al Hilal are competing in the Mauritanian league due to the ongoing war in Sudan. FIFA approved Al Hilal and Al Merrikh move to the Mauritanian Premier League for the 2024-2025 season.
He said they had lined up friendlies for players who have just recovered from injuries to gain game fitness.
"In the coming period, we seek to organize friendly matches for players who have not participated in the matches, to maintain fitness and give players a chance to prove their abilities with the new technical equipment, exceptional rewards have also been seen in the case of winning the upcoming matches," Khalil said.
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