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Omar Abdulrahman, Al Ain dominate Arabian Gulf League Awards

Abu Dhabi - Mamic bags Best Coach of the Year, goalkeeper Khaled Eisa won the Golden Glove Award and Marcus Berg took the Golden Shoe for being the top goal-scorer

Purple, the colour, was ubiquitous at the sixth edition of the Arabian Gulf League Awards held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night.

Team Al Ain dominated the awards night like they have done on the field all season. The 'Boss' icon Omar Abdulrahman secured the prestigious Emirati Player of the Year Award, Croatian tactician Zoran Mamic was named the Best Coach of the Year, goalkeeper Khaled Eisa won the Golden Glove Award for keeping nine clean sheets from 21 games, Marcus Berg took the Golden Shoe for being the top goal-scorer, Egyptian star Hussein El Shahat bagged the Fans' Player of the Year Award, Ali Eid with 20 goals took the Silver Shoe as the Arabian Gulf Reserve League top goal-scorer and Al Ain also won the Online Content Award.

Omar was ecstatic after edging team mate Rayan Yaslam and Al Jazira star Ali Mabkhout to the Emirati player crown.

"Yes, I am very happy. We have won double titles this year. We are also in contention for the AFC Champions League. I believe we can do it (treble in a season)," Al Ain and the UAE national team captain said after the awards ceremony.

"My award is thanks to team effort," 'Amoory' added in a season where he scored five goals from 17 appearances and provided four assists. Omar was instrumental in Al Ain winning the two trophies and the talisman remains the leading light at the club.

Coach Mamic, guided his team to 16 wins from 22 games, and won the 'Leader' award.

"This honour is for everyone at the club and fans. I have won twice before in Croatia as Best Coach. We are a big club and had a great season. We work as a team. This is a good motivation to do well next year. We won double and had a great season and deserve the trophies won by Al Ain players."

Berg, who took the Golden Shoe after scoring 25 goals from his 21 outings, said the hard work will continue at Al Ain.

"I had a great season and will try my best to score more next year. We have played well as a team and it makes it easy for individuals like me. I am happy to give my best and make fans happy."

Al Wahda's Sebastian Tagliabue was named the Best Foreigner player. And the Argentinian revealed about his two-year contract extension at the club.

"This is very special. I am proud of winning this award as I always give my best for the club. This is my second home. I will try to score as much as possible," the Al Wahda goal-machine said about the season in which he netted 23 goals from 21 matches.

Tagliabue was influential in Al Wahda finishing second and said there is more to come.

"We, Al Ain and Al Wasl fought throughout the year. Al Ain top almost every year but we have been able to put a good fight in last two seasons. The turning point in our chase was losing to Al Ain; if we had managed to draw then things would have been different," Tagliabue said.

Al Wahda's Mohammed Al Shamsi secured the Golden Boy Award. The 21-year-old goalkeeper had managed six clean sheets in the season from 21 games. Others in contention were Al Jazira's Mohammed Al Attas and Al Nasr's Jassim Yaqoob.

Meanwhile, Pro-League Committee chairman Abdulla Naser Al Junaibi said the 10th season has been the best-ever with global recognitions coming in the 'Year of Zayed'.

"We managed to win the top league award in Asia. Our ambition knows no limits and our journey continues," Al Junaibi said.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com