After a largely successful debut season for Oday Dabbagh with Salmiya and then Qadsia in the Kuwait Premier League the Jerusalmite is on the move again.
Although the 21 year old managed to score four times and dish out two assists in eleven matches last season was blighted by a broken collarbone, a contract dispute that lead to a contract cancellation, and a positive COVID-19 test.
A trophyless season for Al-Qadsia, one of Kuwait’s biggest clubs, necessitated rethink on the part of the club’s management. The team made a coaching change bringing in Pablo Franco a well traveled Spaniard who had worked in various positions in Spain, Georgia, and China.
The other big change was investment in a striker- Dennis Sesugh (9 goals in 19 games in Oman) to boost the goal output of a side that only scored 29 in 18 games- twenty less than first place Kuwait SC.
With Qadsia’s foreign contingent at six- one above the limit changes had to be made. Last season saw Dabbagh deployed out of position as a striker which made him a candidate for the chop to make way for Sesugh. This, despite the fact that Dabbagh was the youngest foreign player in the contingent and had scored in friendly matches under new manager Pablo Franco.
The club’s decision to ship Dabbagh off came late with the transfer windows closing across the world. A move to Saudi Arabia was much rumored but could not be arranged so Dabbagh’s management team has settled for a short term loan move.
Al Yarmouk finished last in a ten team division last year but were spared the drop by the league expanding to 15 teams. They are clearly a step down for one of Asia’s best young talents but it does provide a chance to play regularly in a familiar surroundings.
The terms of the agreement will mean that Dabbagh will play for Yarmouk until January with the hopes that Al-Qadsia could arrange a permanent move for the Palestinian.
