Al Ain Club’s Keita out for 2 months due to injury

ABU DHABI — Al Ain FC’s new foreign signing Ibrahim Keita (in picture) may be out for two months because of an injury, the club said on Wednesday.

Published: Thu 2 Sep 2010, 11:55 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:40 AM

The Ivorian footballer Keita suffered the injury in their season-opening UAE Pro-League game against promoted Dubai FC at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Qattara in Al Ain. Al Ain FC won that game 4-3.

The club said that according to the medical reports, Keita may be out of action for about six weeks. He is undergoing his treatment programme. It is the second injury setback for Al Ain after their Morrocan player Soufiane Alloudi was ruled out for six weeks because of a knee injury, which requires a surgery. Alloudi, who was the Moroccan Athlete of the Year in 2007, suffered the injury during the Al Ain Football International Championship game against Al Shabab.

Keita confirmed the injury saying: “I picked up the injury during the game against Dubai FC. According to the medical reports, I would be out for about six weeks to two months, which is disappointing.”

Meanwhile Keita said that the club and his teammates made him feel at home. “My teammates welcomed me and I didn’t feel that I was playing with Al Ain for the first time. There was a sense of belonging and it felt like I have been with the club for a really long time. I hope to repay that faith by winning titles for Al Ain,” Keita said.

He added that he will wait on the management decision on his injury and will continue with his treatment programme.

The 25-year-old Ivorian started his career with Fahaheel FC in Kuwait before he was transferred to another Kuwait club Al Qadisia in 2005. He was with them until he joined Al Ain FC. He won titles with Al Qadisia in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 season as well as the GCC Clubs title.

Al Ain FC travel to Al Nasr for the second game on Friday.

james@khaleejtimes.com