DOHA: Time is running out for Adriano to add some silverware to his own personal trophy cabinet.
The Brazilian striker can’t wait for tomorrow’s QNB Cup final where his team, Eljaish, will take on Al Arabi.
At 31, Adriano savours every second of opportunities like these. The former Internacional striker is old enough to accept they do not come around every season.
Adriano got close to the trophy at the QNB City Centre Mall branch with team-mate Saad Sattam Al Shammari.
Now he’s dreaming of the opportunity to lift the QNB Cup at Qatar Sports club this week.
“I am very excited and happy to be playing in this final with Eljaish,” Adriano said.
“It is a great thing that we have the chance to win the first trophy for the club. This is what we all want,” he added.
“I want to take this competition. Football is my life and this is why I want to win it. It is my job and I feel like it would be a big achievement to win. I think we deserve to win something. I don’t know what the coach has done to have us playing so well on the field but we are here.
“This season is different compared to last season. We have a new coach in the last year but he gives us good football and has us playing a good game.
“When we step on that pitch we will all be thinking about winning the final. It will be a great achievement if we can succeed.”
It won’t just be the players who are winners. As part of this final, main sponsors QNB will hand over QR 50,000 to one lucky fan.
The bank has spent the last two days inviting customers into their branches as the trophy goes on a tour of Doha.
But while Adriano has already got close to the QNB Cup, the one thing stopping him fulfilling his wish comes in the shape of Al Arabi.
Abdulaziz Bennij has demonstrated this season that his side are capable of beating big teams and showing great desire to fight for results.
That is a strong combination that could help the Dream Team achieve success in the final at Qatar Sports Club tomorrow.
Al Arabi star Rajab Hamza Qassim said: “I think we are ready and determined to win this trophy. I would never have thought when we were at the bottom of the league earlier in the season we would be in a cup final.”
He added: “But I think that demonstrates how hard we have worked to get to this stage.”
He explained: “We are all ready for the game and will be trying to win this competition for ourselves, the club and the fans.”
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