Dubai: Al Ahli striker Ahmad Khalil says he wants to be the UFL’s top goal scorer next season, but he won’t reveal his target tally.
The 19-year-old, 2008 AFC Young Player of the Year award winner told press he had a target, “But it is a secret. I want to be top next season, but I’m keeping the number to myself.”
When pushed if his coach David O’Leary had set a target for him, Khalil said, “I told him I want to be top goal scorer – and he said 10 goals.”
If successful Khalil, who recently bagged a benchmark five at the UAE’s victorious U-23 Gulf Cup campaign, would only be the second Emirati to have achieved the feat in the last five years. The last was his brother and fellow Al Ahli player Faisal who finished joint top with Anderson (then at Sharjah) on 16 goals in the 2007/08 season.
Previous winners Jose Sand of Al Ain netted 24 last season, while Brazilian Fernando Baiano (then at Jazira) grabbed 25 the year before.
Khalil, whose favourite player is Drogba, also expressed his desire to one day play in England, or Spain, with Chelsea, or Barcelona so long as he was successful in his home country first.
In answer to critics who say local players don’t have the professional mentality to play abroad Khalil said, “If there is that thought we don’t believe it. We can achieve whatever we want.”
On his UAE first team future Khalil, who has three senior goals from five, said he dreams of joining the squad for the forthcoming Gulf and Asian Cups in November and January respectively.
“Having played in all stages and groups at this time I feel I can be in the first team no problems. I feel ready to give something special.”
U-23 coach Mahdi Ali’s calls to prevent rushing the youngster, were in Khalil’s estimation, “Correct, but this time one should take what is given. I learn more with these (senior caps) and have more drive to play".
