ABU DHABI // Everton Ribeiro is looking forward to sustained success with Al Ahli this season and next as the UAE champions seek to dominate both domestically and on the continent.
The Brazilian, named in the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League Best XI at Saturday's end-of-season awards, played a key role in Ahli's title triumph this campaign, scoring nine goals and finishing second in the division for assists, also with nine.
Ribeiro has now set sights on concluding the season with the President’s Cup crown before switching attention to next year’s quest to go one better than November’s Asian Champions League final defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande.
On Friday, Ahli take on Al Jazira in the cup semi-finals, as they attempt to atone for last year's runner-up finish when they lost on penalties to Al Nasr.
Speaking Saturday at Emirates Palace after being voted into the 2015/16 team of the year, Ribeiro said: “Sure, I want more — I want to now win the President’s Cup. Last season we were so close, but we lost. Now we have a chance to finish the season very well and so we try for that. And after that, we’ll come back hungry for the league and the Champions League again.”
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Ribeiro was one of the standouts in last year’s run to the Champions League final. The playmaker joined Ahli from Brazil’s Cruzeiro not long before the group stages began in February and helped the club qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
However, despite their relative inexperience, Ahli viewed the 1-0 aggregate defeat in the final to Guangzhou as a real opportunity missed, something Ribeiro says the club can use to their advantage next year.
“We talk every time about this, because we went so close but we could not grab it,” he said. “Now we have another chance and we fight again for this championship because it’s very important for the players and the team. This is now a big target.
“It was the first time we play together in the Champions League and now we have the experience to fight with the other teams and now we move stronger towards the next step.”
Ribeiro hopes manager Cosmin Olaroiu will be at the club to mastermind their Asian campaign, with speculation continuing to surround the Romanian's future. Olaroiu has guided Ahli to two league titles in three seasons, with this campaign's professional-era record points haul (66) going some way to him winning coach of the year at Sunday's awards.
“Cosmin is the best coach,” Ribeiro said. “If he stays we have more chance for next season.”
Asked about his own award, Ribeiro said: “I’m so happy to take this trophy. It’s very important to me because I fought with the guys, with the team, and we achieved our first target and won the league. And after that, this is one more important thing for me. Because I like to win trophies.
Ribeiro, who put his improvement this campaign to having a full pre-season with Ahli last summer, has been linked with a move away the club, although he is only 15 months into a four-year contract.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “My family is with me and I really like it here. And I’m proud to play for Al Ahli.”
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