Al Wahda owe it to youth project

The newly-crowned UAE First Division Football League champions Al Wahda owe much of their success to their youth programme which has produced most of the members of their triumphant team.

The club, which took over 25 years to taste its first big success when they won the league in 1999, have ever since been one of the powerhouses of UAE football.

Most of their young stars of the 1999 league triumph have now peaked, but the most encouraging factor is that a new crop of youngsters have made their mark this season.

Though Al Wahda managed to find a successful duo of professionals in Bosnian Darko Metrovic and Antoine Nantcho (Tony) of Ivory Coast, what tilted the balance in their favour has been the quality of their UAE players.

Skipper Abdullah Salem in deep defence, wingbacks Fahad Masaood and Basheer Saaed, the Juma brothers of Abdul Salam and Abdul Rahim in midfield along with Haider Allo Ali are players, who were the stars of their inaugural triumph in 1999, played a major role again this season.

Al Wahda then dominated and won quite a few other trophies and the league title again in 2001. But since then, though they have been one of the main contenders, Al Ain stole a march over them winning the title over the last three seasons.

Apart from Salem and group, the UAE's most promising striker Esmail Mattar has added a new dimension to their attack over the last few years.

But this season has witnessed the transformation of some of their irregular into highly-consistent regular players.

With Abdullah Salem and veteran Al Hay Juma in and out with injuries, Omar Ali and Diab Abdullah have managed to settle down in their defensive roles, while Tawfeeq Abdul Razzaq has revealed an allround talent.

The robust Razzaq has added a lot of muscle in the midfield, while his attacking forays have been a bonus to German coach Rainer Holleman's plans.

Another youngster who grabbed the chances as a substitute was Saleh Hamad Minhali, showing good opportunism to score crucial goals. In goal Ramadan Mallalah, despite going through bouts of poor form, managed to churn out some champion performances.

Al Wahda's manner of triumph in the league also confirmed their quality they scored the highest number of goals (75), the most number of wins (20 from 26 matches) and drew (2) and lost (4), the least by any of the 14-team league.

While the bench strength has been one of their strongest assets, the club can look forward to more youth players progressing through the ranks.

Their international youth football tournament, which has now found its way into Fifa's annual itinerary, has also contributed to a strong youth base.

In appointing Jean Francois Jodar as head of their youth programmes, the club has shown far sightedness and moved forward.

The Frenchman has been charged with chalking out a plan which will ensure the constant flow of quality players for the senior teams.

Al Wahda's success can be attributed to the strength of their home players, most of them products of their own youth programme.