Abu Dhabi: Seeing an Emirati player playing in a top-notch European League is still a long-drawn dream for football lovers here in the UAE. Hence, it is understandable that every time a locally bred player makes an impact, the immediate question is will he make the transition?
Last season, Al Ain star midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman emerged as the best Emirati player in the AGL and announced that he was open to offers from Europe.
And on Monday, Al Jazira’s star player Ali Mabkhout — after clinching the awards for the top scorer and best Emirati player — also expressed similar interest.
“I have a desire to play in Europe or in any other strong league abroad. The UAE league is now strong and UAE players can present themselves well anywhere. We have brought in professionalism in our league and it has improved the level of our players and the tournament on the whole,” said Mabkhout, whose 33 goals were also the all-time best in the Arabian Gulf League (AGL).
“I have not received any offer as of now, because I was fully concentrated on the league. But now I will sit with the management and discuss that with them,” said Mabkhout, who also completed 100 goals in the AGL this season.
Mabkhout’s teammate Khalfan Mubarak, who walked away with the Golden Boy award for the best promising player of the season, thanked the club for the opportunity tossed up to him.
“I thank everyone who contributed to my career, because what was achieved today was with their support throughout the last period. My family gave me the opportunity to advance in the field of football, from a very early age and this award goes to everyone who has backed me,” said Mubarak, adding that the award has added more responsibility on his shoulders for the next season.
“Without a doubt, this award has thrown in a big challenge for me in the coming season, but I have great confidence in myself. I will work hard to develop my abilities and increase my level. The team has improved and so have I. You can say I have grown with the team. It is like winning the President’s Cup last year and the league now,” added Mubarak.
Al Wasl have been a revelation this season and a lot of that has to do with the way their Brazilian forward Fabio De Lima has performed. They finished second — which was their greatest finish ever — and De Lima was adjudged the Best Foreign Player. The 23-year-old immediately heralded that his best is yet to come and he is keen on taking the team to greater heights.
“I must say that the team has shaped well under (Rodolfo) Arruabarrena and we have taken giant strides. We are heading in the right way and next season we would like to do well in Asia. I’m confident that we can do good things together in the coming season,” said de Lima, who edged teammate Brazilian-born East Timorese Caio and Al Ahli’s Senegalese striker Makhete Diop to claim the overseas top honours.
