Omar Abdulrahman dedicates AFC award to ‘whole of the UAE’, remains focused on titles with Al Ain

ABU DHABI // Omar Abdulrahman has vowed to put personal glory to one side and lead Al Ain to titles in 2017 after he became the second successive Emirati to be crowned Asian footballer of the year.

The UAE playmaker, 25, was confirmed as the continent’s finest footballer at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Annual Awards, which took place on Thursday night at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Abdulrahman succeeds compatriot Ahmed Khalil, who made history 12 months ago by becoming the first Emirati to be awarded Asian club football’s lead individual honour. Abdulrahman, who was shortlisted alongside Khalil 12 months ago, clinched the trophy ahead of China’s Wu Lei and Iraq’s Hammadi Ali.

Upon receiving the prize on stage, Abdulrahman dedicated the award to the “whole of the UAE”, and then shared an emotional embrace with his father.

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“The happiness of seeing my father happy and proud of me was more important than the award,” Abdulrahman said. “Everything I do is dedicated to my father and my family.

“Last year I did not lose. The award did not go to a stranger, it went to my brother Ahmed. He deserved it and I did not feel sad for that. This year my ambitions were to win the Champions League title, which was more important for me, and winning that trophy would mean getting these individual awards.

“But this trophy is not only for me. It’s for all my colleagues and brothers at Al Ain and the national team. It’s also for the staff and managerial staff at Al Ain and the national team.”

Abdulrahman has enjoyed a stellar 2016 personally, playing an integral role in Al Ain’s run to the Asian Champions League final, where the UAE side were denied the title last Saturday by South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. In 14 appearances in the competition, Abdulrahman was named man of the match eight times.

He has also starred for the UAE national team as they progressed to the third and final stage of qualification for the 2018 World Cup. Currently, the UAE sit fourth in Group B at the halfway stage.

However, Abdulrahman insisted the pain of losing the Champions League final, together with finishing second to Al Ahli in the 2015/16 Arabian League and runners-up to Al Jazira in the 2016 President’s Cup, would not ease because he secured the AFC award.

“According to statistics, yes this is my best year as an individual,” he said. “But looking at the team’s performance, we didn’t win any titles this year and this is what I’m looking to do next year: to make up for all the trophies we lost this year. From now on I have a very big challenge and a new challenge with the national team and Al Ain.

Asked if the new honour would expedite his desire to move to a major European league, Abdulrahman said: “Every player has a dream to play in Europe, but that’s also God’s will. If I get a good offer from a big club and good club, I would not mind it. But you have to note that Al Ain is also a very big team and everyone dreams of playing for Al Ain.”

FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE AFC AWARDS

AFC Diamond of Asia Award

Issa Hayatou (CAM)

Dream Asia Award

Qatar Football Association

Member Association of the Year Award

Aspiring: Bhutan Football Federation

Developing: All India Football Federation

Inspiring: Japan Football Association

AFC President Recognition Award for Grassroots Football

Aspiring: National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam

Developing: Philippine Football Federation