Sport | Football

Abu Dhabi club reign supreme

Al Jazira won the lion's share of the titles of the GCC Clubs Championship.

  • By Yasir Abbasher, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:08 January 1, 2008
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Al Jazira won the lion's share of the titles of the GCC Clubs Championship.

In addition to the GCC trophy, Al Jazira's coach Ladislau Boloni won the Best Coach title while their striker Toni was the tournament's top scorer with six goals.

Ahamd Mubarak Dada won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.

" I am happy to win the VIP title in my first participation in the GCC Championship but my happiness for winning the trophy for my club is greater," Dada told Gulf News.

"Since returning from Al Dammam where we lost the first leg, I was confident that we can score more than two goals at home.

"Thank God, we achieved that and did not let our country, club and our fantastic fans down." Dada added.

Physio faints

Al Ittifag's only goal was scored by Sayyaf Al Bishi in the last minute of extra time. It almost killed his team's physiotherapist.

Dr. Nabil Abdul Salam, who has been a member of the Al Ittifag's medical staff since 1978, fainted when Al Bishi scored the last gasp equaliser for his team and reviving their fortunes to defend the title which they won last year for the third time in their history.

Abdul Salam was treated on the field and later refused to go to the hospital before and watched his team lose the shootouts.

Applause for fans

Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithi, the Chairman of the Al Jazira's board of directors, expressed his thanks for all the fans who supported the team to win the GCC title.

"The atmosphere of the match reminded me of the Gulf Cup last January and our players showed the same determination that helped the UAE to win the title."

Libero's gesture

Rashid Abdul Rahman, the Al Jazira libero, dedicated the victory to all the club's loyal fans who supported the players and motivated them to show their best.

" We are grateful to our fans. They were one of the main reasons that helped us to win the title."

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