Football: UAE's Omar Abdulrahman Named Asian Player Of 2016
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published December 02, 2016 | 12:35 PM
ABU DHABI, Dec 2, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 02nd Dec, 2016 ) - Omar Abdulrahman, arguably Asia's biggest star, was crowned AFC player of the year in a glittering ceremony in his home country of United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
The left-sided midfielder and winger is the second Emirati to win the trophy in consecutive years and his award was greeted with a huge cheer in the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The victory was even sweeter as he was nominated last year but lost out to compatriot, Ahmed Khalil.
But he said the trophy would not make up for his Emirati league side Al Ain losing the Asian Champions League final last month to South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. "My main ambition was to win the Champions League trophy," he said.
"The trophy is not only for me but it's for all my colleagues at Al Ain and the national team." Abdulrahman, who once had a two week trial for English side Manchester City, also admitted he would like to play in Europe.
"Every player dreams of playing in Europe," he said. "If I get a good offer, I wouldn't mind with a good and big club." The award caps a stellar 2016 for the 25-year-old. Even though he was on the losing side in the Champions League final, he was named the tournament's best player.
Capped more than 50 times, he also carries the international hopes of the UAE, which has a real chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup finals. Leicester City's Shinji Okazaki was crowned international player of the year, the award given to those who play in a league outside the AFC.
The Japanese star edged out South Korea's Son-Heung-min, a fellow English Premier League star, who plays for Spurs.
Women's player of the year was Caitlin Ford, a former AFC young player of the year.
She is the first woman to win both awards. Ford, who represented the Australian women's team, the Matildas, at the Rio Olympics, said she was honoured to win - but was surprised. "I wasn't really expecting this to be honest," she said.
"My winning this trophy reflects on an amazing year for us Matildas and I have taken this for all of them." Australia reached the quarter-finals stage, going out to hosts Brazil on penalties. Choi Kang-hee of the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors was awarded top male coach of the year.
The women's award was won by Chan Yuen-ting of Hong Kong. The 28-year-old manager of Eastern sports Club is the first woman to lead a men's team in a country's top division to a league championship.
- 'No compromise' - =================== Meanwhile, AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa confirmed the association's postponed Extraordinary Congress will go ahead in Bahrain next May, where it will finally elect members for the FIFA council.
The original meeting was postponed in September in protest by AFC members when FIFA disqualified Qatar's Saoud Al-Mohannadi from standing for election. Last month, Mohannadi was banned by FIFA for one year for refusing to help in an investigation.
However his name may appear again on the ballot as Sheikh Salman said all Asian football associations will be free to put forward their own candidate for the vote. "The AFC will not compromise its principles," he said in a statement.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Govt committed to developing gems, jewellery sector: Minister
Three new bills introduced in Senate
Nine dead, 1,318 injured in Punjab road accidents
Ukraine, Russia exchange fire, at least seven dead
1st-ever National Sports Revival conference starts next month
Joint venture decided for action against MEPCO’s defaulters
Modern irrigation system imperative to deal with water scarcity: UAF VC
Bringing 4.4mln hectares suitable land under olive cultivation to address econom ..
One woman died after speedy bus overturned
155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains lash East Africa
Parliament committed to resolve public issues on priority basis: Ghulam Mustafa
Collaborative Care of Diabetes Centre inaugurated in Faisalabad
More Stories From World
-
Ukraine, Russia exchange fire, at least seven dead
38 minutes ago -
155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains lash East Africa
43 minutes ago -
US economic growth slows significantly in first quarter
37 minutes ago -
Macron warns 'mortal' Europe needs stronger defence
42 minutes ago -
COP29 host says deal on climate aid essential but offers few details
1 hour ago -
Ukraine jails couple for helping Russia strike hospital
1 hour ago
-
Togo opposition asks W.Africa court to overturn reforms
2 hours ago -
Paris landmark Moulin Rouge's windmill sails collapse
2 hours ago -
Ahead of feared Rafah invasion, Palestinians mourn bombardment dead
2 hours ago -
155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains cause floods, landslides: PM
2 hours ago -
Car giants vie for EV crown at Beijing's Auto China show
2 hours ago -
Chinese defense minister to attend SCO meeting in Kazakhstan
2 hours ago