Khater voted UAE's best player for the last season

Subait Khater, the 25-year-old midfield general of Al Ain Club, has been named the Best Player in 2004-05 by the UAE Football Association.

Subait has also been invited to take part in this year's edition of the AllStars Game, a fund-raiser football game played by the world's top stars and promoted by Portuguese and Real Madrid star Luis Figo.

Khater, who has rescued his club time and again with his awesome free-kicks in the First Division Football League and Al Ain's progress to the AFC Champions League, will be leaving on Thursday to take part in the AllStars game at the Algarve Stadium in Portugal on July 2.

He has been one of the most consistent performers for the club in their recent string of successes which included three league titles and this season's runners-up spot in the last four years and the President's Cup this season, apart from the 2003 triumph as Asia's best club in the AFC Champions League.

With veteran skipper Salem Jowhar along with Sultan Rashid and Ghareb Hareb not making it in the first XI, Subait is the one who took control of the midfield and played a pivotal role in many a triumph for Al Ain.

The UAE FA award was decided through a ballot by coaches and journalists and Subait's closest rival in this race was Esmail Mattar, Al Wahda's diminutive striker.

For Khater, who is also a regular in the UAE national team, the call-up to play alongside some of the world best current and recently retired footballers along with some champion stars from other disciplines, is indeed a huge honour as he is the only one from the region.

The AllStars Game is a fundraiser football match promoted by Sportzone on behalf of the Luis Figo Foundation (FLF).

The match, set for 8.45 pm on July 2, will field a FLF Team versus a FIRM team at the Algarve Stadium.

All profits will finance the Luis Figo Cup, Team Portugal and The Hope Project (FLF) and will help build the first Ronald McDonald House in Portugal (FIRM).