Good news comes in threes for Al Ain midfielder Brahima Keita

Now Al Ain have secured their Pro League status, the Ivorian midfielder Brahima Keita can enjoy a triple celebration, he tells Amith Passela.

The Ivory Coast midfielder, Brahima Keita, left, only had two days to pack before he left Kuwait to join Al Ain before the start of the season.

Playing for Al Ain has coincided with two of the most memorable events in Brahima Keita's life. He received a first call-up to the Ivory Coast national-team squad and his son, Bilal, was born a month earlier.

"It has been some of the happiest and most memorable months for me," said the 26-year-old midfielder. "First, the birth of my son, and then a call-up from my national federation to say I am in the squad for a couple of upcoming friendlies. They are both high points in my life."

Keita does not know whom Ivory Coast will play in the two friendlies, the first in France and the next at home, but he will join the 22-player training squad in two weeks.

He plans to return home after the Pro League seasons ends on Sunday. "I will have some time to spend with my family members and relatives, and it's back to football again," he said. "This is my first call-up from the national federation and I am very excited."

A man who plays with passion, Keita perhaps was trying too hard when Al Ain played at Kalba last week with a chance to clinch a place in the top flight. He was red-carded during the match and Al Ain lost 4-3 to veer closer to the drop zone. He was suspended for last night's match with Jazira, but Al Ain won 4-1 to secure a place in the Pro League. He will be eligible to play at Al Shabab on Sunday.

"Everyone knows the problem we faced early in the season with so many injuries to key players," he said. "We are now collectively better-organised, as recent results show."

Keita was a late signing for Al Ain after Soufiane Alloudi, the Moroccan international, was ruled out with a knee injury before the start of the season.

A week prior to that, Jorge Valdivia, the Chile international and the club's influential midfielder, rejoined the Brazilian club Palmeiras.

"I had barely two days to pack my belongings and travel to Al Ain," said Keita, who was loaned from Al Qadisiya of Kuwait. The loan period finishes at the close of the season, but Keita hopes to stay with the club.

He had an inauspicious start with Al Ain. He suffered a knee injury in the very first match, against Dubai, which they won 4-3. He was out for six weeks.

"I felt very bad because I had a big responsibility with my new team because I was aware of their situation. It was my first game for them and it was very frustrating" he said.

"I was not only the player who suffered. The club had to go through an unusually hard time because of the injuries to so many key players and because of this reason we were pushed to the bottom of the league."

Al Ain went without a win for 12 games, 10 of them under Abdulhameed al Mishtiki, the Emirati, who was dismissed after a couple of embarrassing defeats to Kalba (4-1) and Al Jazira (4-0).

Gallo's first two games ended in defeat but the club rallied under the Brazilian, gaining 11 points in the five league matches before the defeat at Kalba. But they bounced back to defeat Jazira last night.

Keita's career took off when he was spotted by Cyril Domoraud, a former Ivorian player, and drafted to his academy in France. In France he played at the academy and for the local club CS Louhans-Cuiseaux.

After five years in Europe he had a six-month stint in Qatar before he joined the Kuwaiti club Fahaheel, staying for two years. He then moved to the more successful club, Al Qadisiya, making 47 appearances and scoring five goals over a five-year period, before being loaned out to Al Ain.

He has had two opportunities to play in Europe, the first for Valencia in Spain and then Paris St-Germain in France.

"I spent six months with Valencia but after all that time the deal didn't come through because of some disagreement between the Spanish club and Qadisiya. And later, they didn't release me from an offer from Paris St-Germain.

"This is my fate but I am happy because I still have a decent job and also feel that I am in the spotlight because my federation has also spotted me.

"Although my first season in the UAE started painfully, it has shaped up pretty well towards the end. Hopefully, I can win a place in the national team and return to Al Ain to serve better for the new season."

Waleed Salem, the captain and goalkeeper, hopes Keita will be successful in winning a place in his national team.

"He has played all his football outside his country and to be called for the national team squad after a season with Al Ain means the federation have been following his progress, and raises the level of the Pro League," said Salem, the former UAE international.

"He has settled in well with us and has played a big role in rebuilding the team, since his return from injury.

"I wish he will be successful in winning a permanent spot in the national team and return to play a bigger role for Al Ain."

Omar Abdulrahman, the Al Ain midfielder, said of Keita: "It was very unfortunate he got injured in the very first game and wasn't 100 per cent until after the second half of the season. He strikes a good balance in the team in both, defence and attack.

"He is a good team man and the success we have had in those five matches, winning three and drawing two, provides a clear indication of his contribution to the team."