Abu Dhabi // Ricardo Oliveira, Al Jazira's top scorer, will miss Saturday's Pro League derby game against Al Wahda.
The Brazilian left for home in midweek to be with his family following his mother's death and will not be back until Sunday, according to Ali Al Nuaimi, the club spokesman.
The former AC Milan striker scored twice in his team's 3-0 win over Baniyas on Monday to move them up to third in the Pro League table after he decided to remain and play for the club despite the news of his mother's death the day before the game.
"He did a great service when he decided to play in the crucial game against Baniyas," Al Nuaimi said. "Travelling to Brazil and back is a very long journey and he wouldn't have been ready for the Wahda game. The club had granted him permission to leave on the same day his mother passed away yet he decided to play at least in one game before he left, for which we are very grateful to him."
Oliveira tops Jazira's scoring charts with nine goals from 11 games and his absence will be felt even more after his out-of-form compatriot Fernandinho was dropped from the line-up for the Baniyas encounter.
Follow us
[ @SprtNationalUAE ]
