Al Shabab transfer Ali Saeed to Al Ahli

Ali Saeed, Al Shabab senior football team goalkeeper, was transferred to Al Ahli Club yesterday on a permanent contract after he played with the team last season on temporary conditions.

Ali Saeed's brilliant performance last season, which contributed in the Ahli's triumph in the President's Cup, convinced the Ahli officials to bid for signing him permanently. They succeeded after a tough negotiations with the Al Shabab board.

Ali Saeed will leave to Germany today to join the Al Ahli club's training camp. The Al Ahli and Al Shabab Club officials, however, declined to reveal the details of the deal.

Ali Saeed said had didn't the amount. "Definitely there is a deal between the two clubs, but I don't know the amount. They also told me that I will have my share, but no idea about the sum," the former Al Shabab custodian told Gulf News.

Ali Saeed added that he was happy with his transfer to Al Ahli. "I am glad that the Al Shabab Club agreed to transfer me permanently to Ahli. I will spare no effort in defending the Ahli colours in the coming seasons."

Ali Saeed exhibited fine form with Ahli last season. He was instrumental in Ahli winning the President's Cup for the fifth time when he saved George Weah's penalty kick in the final against Jazira. Saeed's brilliant save encouraged the Ahli players to score a third goal and seal victory.

"When I saved the penalty kick, I didn't think of George Weah as a world class player. I was only thinking on how I could save the spot kick, and I was very lucky to save it and deny Jazira of scoring the equaliser."

Ali Saeed added that Al Shabab have many good goalkeepers like Hasan Sherrif, Juma Rashid, Ismail Rabie. "Al Shabab will not suffer from my transfer to Al Ahli. They have excellent goalkeepers who are members of the UAE national team," concluded Ali Saeed.

Another new goalkeeper will accompany Saeed to Germany. Salim Mubarak, former goalkeeper of second division club Hatta, has signed with Al Ahli last week.