HATTA // Ali Mabkhout said the fact no one expected Al Jazira to challenge for the Arabian Gulf League title this season spurred their march to the title.
The Abu Dhabi club, UAE champions only once previously, have captured a second top-flight crown with two rounds to spare, their 5-0 victory at Hatta on Saturday enough to seal the trophy ahead of Al Ahli.
Jazira’s second UAE championship seems all the more remarkable given that last season they flirted with relegation midway through the campaign. However, the club then took the decision to replace under-performing manager Abel Braga with Henk ten Cate and, with the Dutchman in charge, the team rebounded to finish seventh. They won also the President’s Cup.
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Read more
■ AGL awards: Ali Mabkhout up against Omar Abdulrahman and Ahmed Khalil for best Emirati player
■ Al Jazira achieve 'something really special' by winning the Arabian Gulf League title
■ Ali Mabkhout, team spirit and the factors that led to Al Jazira's AGL title success
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Asked in the aftermath of Jazira’s win against Hatta if he thought after what happened last season that title success this year would be possible, Mabkhout said: “Of course, we always believe in ourselves. This is of big importance. Last season was a rubbish season, but we won the President’s Cup. The big thing that helped us this season is that no one said we will win - this helped us so much.
“I am so happy and so proud of my coach, the players and the team. They made a good season and now it is time to celebrate. We have an amazing coach and fantastic players. Everybody has done their job and more, and this is shown on the pitch.”
Mabkhout has done his job particularly well, as evidenced in Saturday’s convincing triumph at Hatta. The UAE striker scored a hat-trick to take his league tally for the campaign to 31 goals.
Seven goals ahead of nearest challenger Al Wasl forward Fabio De Lima in the race for the Golden Boot, the treble extends Mabkhout’s own single-season record for an Emirati in the professional era. Should he finish with the Golden Boot, as expected, he will become the first local-born player to achieve the feat since the league turned pro in 2008.
Mabkhout insisted that he could not have done what he has this term without his Jazira teammates.
“I am so proud of myself and my team,” he said. “They have helped me so much. Without my friends, I would not do anything. But I am so happy to score 31 this season and I will try to score even more if I can.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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