AL AIN // Ahmed Abdullah's record as an Al Ain player is unrivalled.
His 17 seasons as a player with the club are unparalleled. His 124 league goals remain unmatched. And he is completing 35 years with the club, including his time as a member of the coaching staff.
So perhaps no one is better-placed to assess what the opening of the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium means to the city and to the UAE’s most successful club, 11-time champions.
“This is as good as it can get, and for me it’s an incredible journey to witness such wonderful, state-of-the-art facilities and remarkable architecture,” Abdullah said yesterday during the first official tour of the stadium. “This is the stadium for the new generation and they are very lucky. For me, it is a feeling of joy and fulfilment.
“It is a milestone for the club and a landmark in the city.”
The spectacular, 25,000-seat stadium was built in just over 17 months and covers 45,000 square metres. With a height of 50m, it is the tallest structure in the Garden City.
Omar Abdulrahman, the Emirati Player of the Year, said that standing at the centre of the pitch reminded him of his first visit to Old Trafford, as a UAE player in a match against Uruguay during the 2012 London Olympics.
“It is an incredible feeling to stand on the pitch, a feeling I got when I first stepped on to the pitch at Old Trafford,” the little midfielder said.
“Here, the fans can get closer to the players and, of course, it will be great motivation for us. As a player, I feel very proud to play and belong to this club.”
Quique Sanchez Flores, the coach, shared similar sentiments and is looking forward to be part of history when Al Ain play host to Al Dhafra in the debut match, at 5.10pm on Friday.
“For sure, you don’t need to motivate anyone for this game,” he said. “It is a huge occasion for the players, fans and the management.
“What I have noticed here during my time is that when they want to do something they do it in style. This is a beautiful stadium and I, too, feel a bit proud to be part of the history when we play this inaugural match.
“It will be a massive game for us with the expectations high on this occasion. I wish we can celebrate the moment with a good result and then turn a new chapter for the club.”
Ghanem Mubarak Al Hajeri, chairman of Al Ain Sports and Games who headed the media address, said the club has a forward-thinking mentality.
“Our aim is to continually be at the forefront of the UAE football scene and achieve accomplishments both locally and regionally,” he said.
The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium will be the city’s third venue, after the Khalifa bin Zayed and Tahnoun bin Mohammed stadiums.
“All three venues will be utilised to train and play matches for the different levels of the club teams,” said Mohammed Abdullah bin Bdua, a member of the club’s board of directors.
apassela@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
