Emirati Abdulrahman named Asia Player of the Year

United Arab Emirates playmaker Omar Abdulrahman’s disappointment at failing to win the Asian Champions League with Al Ain last weekend was tempered when he was named the continent’s best player on Thursday night.
Abdulrahman’s club were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors with the midfielder nonetheless named the tournament’s most valuable player.
The 25-year-old went one better on Thursday in Abu Dhabi when he won Asia’s Player of the Year award ahead of Iraq and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya striker Hammadi Ahmed and China and Shanghai SIPG forward Wu Lei.
“It is a great achievement to have been given this honour,” the UAE international told reporters.
“Despite this I did not win the AFC Champions League title so this is what I am hoping to achieve next year.
“My aim is to also win the AFC Player of the Year for another time.”
Abdulrahman, known as Amoory by the club’s fans, was on the short list for the award last year but was pipped by compatriot Ahmed Khalil.
Apart from his club performances, he has also inspired the UAE into the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Abdulrahman is known for his silky skills, in particular a left foot that has proved capable of unlocking the tightest of defences.
Australia winger Cailtin Foord was named the best female player in the region, beating out teammate Lisa De Vanna and China’s Tan Ruyin.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” the Sydney FC forward said. “I feel very honoured and I’m happy to be taking this award back to Australia. This is for the national team, anyone of whom could easily have been here.”
Japan’s Shinji Okazaki, who plays for English champions Leicester City, was named the AFC’s International Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) has been named winner of the AFC Dream Asia Award.
The QFA claimed this year’s social responsibility accolade ahead of two other nominees – Japan and Korea Football Associations.
Qatar’s Koora Time initiative, which won the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Sports Industry Awards 2016 back in March, is a five-year sustainable programme designed to improve the health and well-being of Qatar’s youth through football.
The initiative provides access to additional hours of physical activity as well as more opportunities and spaces to play football. The flagship programme provides each child with an additional 72 hours of physical activity over its 18-week duration.
Qatar has also engaged in empowering youth through football, managerial skills and development through Reach Out To Asia (Rota), a charity organisation.
The QFA has extended its contribution to society by donating ticket sales proceeds from the Emir Cup to Rota who passed on the donation to victims of the recent Nepal earthquake.
The prestigious AFC Dream Asia Award is given to an outstanding Member Association in recognition and appreciation of its social development work through football.