Al-Merreikh SC coach Darko Novic believes his side achieved “double gains” after a youth-focused approach helped the team avoid defeat against rivals Al-Hilal Omdurman while also protecting key players for the Sudanese Elite League campaign.
Al-Merreikh drew 1-1 with Al-Hilal at Kigali Pele Stadium in a postponed Rwandan league match, despite missing an opportunity to secure victory after taking the lead and later enjoying a numerical advantage following a red card for an opposing player.
Although the result denied Al-Merreikh a derby win, Novic viewed the match as a successful outcome for several reasons.
The Serbian coach opted to prioritise his team’s demanding schedule in the Sudanese Elite League by resting many senior players and relying heavily on younger members of the squad.
Only three players were sent to support assistant coach Dargan’s line-up for the derby in Rwanda: goalkeeper Abdul Basit, Abdul Latif Adam and Mohamed Yahya.
Abdul Latif Adam and Mohamed Yahya were introduced during the second half and reportedly impressed with their performances, while Abdul Basit remained on the bench.
The decision formed part of a wider strategy by Novic to preserve his core players for domestic league fixtures, where Al-Merreikh are competing on a congested schedule with only 72 hours between matches.
The coach believed avoiding excessive travel between Khartoum and Kigali would reduce fatigue and improve the team’s chances of sustaining their title challenge.
According to the club, Novic accepted responsibility for the risk involved in fielding several inexperienced players in one of Sudanese football’s biggest fixtures.
Despite that gamble, Al-Merreikh avoided defeat and maintained an edge over Al-Hilal in recent direct meetings after previously winning the first encounter before drawing the second.
The result was viewed positively within the club, especially given Al-Hilal’s current strong form compared to Al-Merreikh’s ongoing rebuilding process.
Novic made clear that his main objective remains success in the Sudanese Elite League rather than prioritising matches in the Rwandan competition.
The 55-year-old coach reportedly refused to sacrifice his established stars for a match that would not significantly affect either side’s standing in the Rwandan league.
Instead, he chose to focus on maintaining momentum in the domestic title race.
The strategy also allowed younger players to gain valuable experience in high-pressure matches, something Novic sees as important for the future development of the squad.
The Serbian manager expressed confidence that several emerging players would strengthen the team further in the coming months.
His handling of the derby also helped ensure Al-Merreikh would continue the remainder of the league season with a fully fit and rested squad.
Novic, who is in his first season with Al-Merreikh, has recently overseen a series of positive results in local competition.
The club secured victories against Al-Ahli Madani, a side expected to challenge alongside Al-Hilal for the title, while also recording what was described as the biggest victory in the competition so far against Umm Maghad.
Umm Maghad had been viewed as one of the tournament’s potential surprise contenders.
Those performances have strengthened Al-Merreikh’s hopes of reclaiming the Sudanese league title and helped Novic answer criticism that surrounded him earlier in the campaign.
While the derby draw may not have delivered victory, the coach appears satisfied that the broader objectives of squad management, youth development and league preparation were successfully achieved.
