Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Doha: Al Arabi have dismissed head coach Paulo Silas in the wake of their recent 3-0 defeat to El Jaish that left the AFC Champions League Group B side tenth in the 12-team Qatar Stars League.
The 46-year-old Brazilian, who spent two seasons in Japan with Kyoto Purple Sanga in the late 1990s, led Al Arabi to glory in the 2011 Sheikh Jassem Cup and a fourth-place finish in last season's Qatar Stars League which was enough to see the seven-time Qatar champions qualify for the 2012 edition of Asia's premier club competition.
However, a run of five draws and two defeats saw Al Arabi lose patience with the former Brazil international with Abdullah Saad taking over the managerial reins on a caretaker basis.
Al Arabi, who finished runners-up to Thai Farmers Bank in the final of the 1995 Asian Club Championship make their first appearance in the AFC Champions League on March 6 when they face fellow debutants Bani Yas in the UAE.