"To succeed is nothing, but to feel no doubts about oneself is something very different: it is character," a wise sage once said. Al Shabab harbour that kind of a self-belief; they put on a grand show of that trait all through last season and they displayed it again during the Super Cup on Sunday. The Slashers lost the game, in extra-time, but they earned the respect of their opponents and fans. The defeat has done nothing to dampen their spirit, such is their character and confidence.
"We have the heart of champions," says their Brazilian coach, Toninho Cerezo. "We have the strength of character - you can beat us, but we will bounce back." The Shabab that Cerezo so passionately boasts about were not the same force before the start of his reign. They had finished sixth for three consecutive seasons and were a bunch of ragged also-rans. Cerezo, a former Brazil international with 57 caps, turned the tide, developing the temperament of an under-performing side to turn them into champions.
Shabab won their first league title since 1995, but Cerezo believes the side has yet to reach their potential. "Last season, I don't think we played as well as we can," says the 53-year-old, who was a member of the Brazilian squad for the 1978 and 1982 World Cups. "The players could not fully understand my philosophy of coaching - the positioning and playing, and the tactical aspects of the game.
"This season, it is a lot better." A lot better, though, does not automatically mean more entertaining in Cerezo's book. He has no desire to play like Arsenal and win nothing. "Football today is very different, it is a lot more competitive than in the past," he says. "You need to fight and show a lot of concentration. If you can play breathtaking football and also achieve your objective of winning the match, it is fine. But the most important thing is you should go to the ground to play - play with your full concentration, without trying to be a show pony."
True to his philosophy, Cerezo has brought in workhorses like Marcos Assuncao and Carlos Renato, while allowing Eman Mobali and Javad Kazemian to leave. While clubs like Al Jazira and Al Ain have spent millions on players, Shabab seem to have invested wisely on players who have experience of local football. "For me, it is important to have players who know the level of football in the UAE and the demands of playing here," says Cerezo.
"This was one of the reasons. But the main reason is both of them are very good players." And they are both big names too, as the team manager Obaid al Hubaitha points out. "We go for players who can fit with the group. And they are big names too. Assuncao has played for Santos, Flamengo, Roma and Real Betis. Renato has also played for Flamengo and Corinthians. Musa [Musawengosi Mguni] is a striker for the Zimbabwe national team player back home."
Assuncao, 32, has been given the captain's armband by the players and his vast experience in Europe should give Shabab an edge, not just in the local competitions but also the AFC Champions League. Shabab will be battling on many fronts this season, at home and in Asia, but they lack the kind of bench strength that clubs like Ahli, Jazira or Al Ain boast. As the others splurge, the Slashers have a limited purse, which makes their task difficult. "No, we don't have that many players," admits Cerezo.
"We gave a list of players we wanted to bring here, but none of them could come. It is difficult for us." Hubaitha promises more additions when the transfer window opens in January. For now, Cerezo is focused on the league, where Shabab start their campaign at home on Saturday against Al Shaab. "Last year, we won the championship, That is in the past," he says. "The players will have to take on much greater responsibility.
"They should understand that they cannot afford to relax on their laurels." arizvi@thenational.ae