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UAE's Omar Abdulrahman named Asia Player of the Year

By Reuters
Sunday, 4 December 2016 9:43 AM

UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman's disappointment at failing to win the Asian Champions League with Al Ain last weekend was tempered when he was named the continent's best player.

Abdulrahman's club were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors with the midfielder nonetheless named the tournament's most valuable player.

The 25-year-old went one better on Thursday in Abu Dhabi when he was won Asia's Player of the Year award ahead of Iraq and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya striker Hammadi Ahmed and China and Shanghai SIPG forward Wu Lei.

"It is a great achievement to have been given this honour," the UAE international told reporters.

"Despite this I did not win the AFC Champions League title so this is what I am hoping to achieve next year.

"My aim is to also win the AFC Player of the Year for another time."

Abdulrahman, known as Amoory by the club's fans, was on the shortlist for the award last year but was pipped by compatriot Ahmed Khalil.
Apart from his club performances, he has also inspired the UAE into the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Abdulrahman is known for his silky skills, in particular a left foot that has proved capable of unlocking the tightest of defences.

Australia winger Cailtin Foord was named the best female player in the region, beating out team mate Lisa De Vanna and China's Tan Ruyin.
"I wasn't expecting this," the Sydney FC forward said. "I feel very honoured and I'm happy to be taking this award back to Australia. This is for the national team, anyone of whom could easily have been here."

Japan's Shinji Okazaki, who plays for English champions Leicester City, was named the AFC's International Player of the Year.

Sideshow Bob wrote:2011 or 2012. he featured in a couple of preseason games and looked good imo. strange that it didn't work out, especially considering that he plays in the UAE for our owner's local club (could that be why?).

mr_nool wrote:

Sideshow Bob wrote:2011 or 2012. he featured in a couple of preseason games and looked good imo. strange that it didn't work out, especially considering that he plays in the UAE for our owner's local club (could that be why?).

I seem to recall that it had to do with work permit. I might be making this up though.

Sideshow Bob wrote:AFC Player of the Year. Made the short list last year. Why isn't he playing in Europe? More to the point, why did we never take a punt on him??

Sideshow Bob wrote:2011 or 2012. he featured in a couple of preseason games and looked good imo. strange that it didn't work out, especially considering that he plays in the UAE for our owner's local club (could that be why?).

Im_Spartacus wrote:Ive seen him play a fair few times out here, and the truth is that he stands out against a very poor bunch of players, albeit he goes missing for most of the game and produces one or two moments that makes him look a world beater. But the reality is that he's not consistent enough for a European team in the top flight, and lacks the physique needed at the next tier down.

Dubaimancityfan wrote:

Sideshow Bob wrote:2011 or 2012. he featured in a couple of preseason games and looked good imo. strange that it didn't work out, especially considering that he plays in the UAE for our owner's local club (could that be why?).

He plays for Al Ain which is not Sheikh Mansour's club. I think Al Ain is owned by one of his brothers, so all in the family ! Anyway I can't see him playing in the PL as Spartacus said as he does not have the physical built and strength for it. Add to that that he is paid well where he is and UAE players don't like to leave their comfort zone and venture to distant lands, otherwise he could have landed in some European league if he had wanted to after the London Olympics where he got a lot of exposure.

Dubaimancityfan wrote:

Sideshow Bob wrote:2011 or 2012. he featured in a couple of preseason games and looked good imo. strange that it didn't work out, especially considering that he plays in the UAE for our owner's local club (could that be why?).

He plays for Al Ain which is not Sheikh Mansour's club. I think Al Ain is owned by one of his brothers, so all in the family ! Anyway I can't see him playing in the PL as Spartacus said as he does not have the physical built and strength for it. Add to that that he is paid well where he is and UAE players don't like to leave their comfort zone and venture to distant lands, otherwise he could have landed in some European league if he had wanted to after the London Olympics where he got a lot of exposure.

Arjan Van Schotte wrote:Fair points mate. I think the difference in the UAE in my experience is that the locals generally really don't give a fuck about the Arabian Gulf League, and with one or two exceptions little if anything is done to encourage expats.

There's been lots of gimmicks, including raffling Ferraris and Lamborghinis at half time, but crowds are averaging 2,000 and dropping, and this with free/extremely cheap entrance.

I've been to about 30 games in the last year or two, and found there is very little sense of "club" at most places. It's fair to say that without benefactors behind all teams, there wouldn't be any pro league. I went to one game where I was reliably informed that virtually everyone else there was a member of the club owner's family!