Bonamigo blames hectic schedule for loss

Paulo Bonamigo stressed the need to add experience to his youthful Al Shabab side, following Monday's 5-3 Etisalat Cup final penalty shootout defeat to Al Ahli. Bonamigo blamed his team's hectic schedule this season they have competed in five tournaments over the course of the eight-month campaign — for their final loss. His side won the GCC Champions League, are on the verge of finishing third in the Etisalat Pro League, reached the second round of the President's Cup, and the group stage of the AFC Champions League. After Sunday's last league clash at home to Al Nasr, Al Shabab will have played 50 games this season. But in order to do the same next year, the Brazilian coach is requesting reinforcements."We have to add some players to the group. We have a lot of promising boys for the future, but to play five competitions over the course of a season, we need to add experience for now, not the future. We need players who can contribute right now for next season," he said. "We have played in five competitions and still managed to take our opposition to extra-time in a game that was so close [that] either side could have won. ‘We're very happy' "We're very happy with our season and congratulate everyone at Shabab for a brilliant year." Of the match, he added: "We played and lost with dignity. The team didn't give up and worked hard. I know the supporters wanted us to be champions, but they should be satisfied by the performance. They tried from the first second until the last and played excellently against a brilliant team. "It's very hard to lose this game. It's almost the same as when Al Ahli lost the final of the GCC Champions League to us. Today's our day [for defeat] and it tastes sour. Exhausted players "All the players are exhausted and sacrificed themselves up until the last minute in 120 minutes of football. "We have to congratulate Al Ahli for getting the trophy. Our boys did everything they could and did everything I asked of them. In the spirit of competition and fair play, we must congratulate Al Ahli for a brilliant match." Victory would have secured the Brazilian coach his third title in three years, after the 2011 Etisalat Cup and GCC Champions League, but defeat takes his tally of runners-up medals to two after Al Shabab also lost the President's Cup final in 2010.