Al Wasl, a leading Dubai-based football league club, will start its first day of training on July 24 as part of the first team’s preparations for next season.

This will be the first time that all members of the team, old and new, will meet together as a group and start to work as one unit. This follows medical tests that the players will undergo starting from today (July 20).

Joining Al Wasl team, will be new signing and Chilean international, Edson Puch, who is expected to arrive in Dubai tomorrow evening. Also joining the team will be the new Emirati additions Fahad Masoud, Ali Rabih, Mubarak Hassan and Hamad Al Hosani.

Training sessions, which will take place in Al Wasl’s newly renovated side-pitch and gymnasium, will be led by the team’s fitness coach until head coach Diego Maradona arrives to take over.

Preparations at this stage will focus on physical training and the players will take part in two training sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening.

The number of sessions, their timings and the methods will be adapted during the holy month of Ramadan, with the final decision to be made in coordination with Maradona who is expected to arrive in Dubai within the next two weeks.

The 2011/2012 season for Al Wasl will officially start in mid-September when the team will compete in the Etisalat Cup against Al Wahda, Dubai Club, Al Ain and new entrants, the Emirates Club, as part of Group A. Al Wasl's first match in the Pro League will take place on October 14 against Sharjah. – TradeArabia News Service