Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Al Ahli’s new signing Lima has vowed to help return the AFC Champions League quarter-finalists to winning ways following a lacklustre performance by the Dubai-based club last season.
The 32-year-old has joined the Red Knights on a two-year deal from Portugal’s Benfica, with the Brazilian hitman expected to now feature in Al Ahli’s two-legged last eight showdown with Iran’s Naft Tehran on August 26 and September 16.
“Of course, this is a new experience for me and I will put all my energy into making it a success,” he said on the club’s website. “I will work hard with my new teammates and we will give everything we’ve got so that the team can reach the targets we have set for the new season and make the fans happy.
“I hope that I will repay everyone’s faith in me, especially those who recommended me to Al Ahli. I know I have joined a big club and I hope to be able to live up to the responsibility.
“I know there are players with high technical skills at Al Ahli and that is great for the team. My mission is to complement the attack and to ensure we score more goals this season. It will be tough and needs hard work and cooperation. There is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders and I hope I am up to the task, and that I can score goals and help the team to win trophies.”
Having begun his career with Brazilian outfit Mixto, Lima moved to Benfica from Portuguese rivals Braga in 2012 and went on to notch 70 goals in 144 games, helping his side win the 2013/14 and 2014/15 league titles in the process.
The Brazilian’s arrival at Al Ahli ended a long hunt for a quality striker by head coach Cosmin Olaroiu who saw prolific forward Grafite move to Qatar’s Al Sadd in January.
Al Ahli subsequently finished seventh in the UAE Pro League, scoring 21 goals less than they did in their UAE title-winning season a year earlier.
Photo: AFP