Al Ahli striker Ahmed Khalil and Al Ain playmaker Omar Abdulrahman have made the three-man shortlist for the 2015 AFC Player of the Year.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the winner of the award revealed at the AFC Annuel Awards ceremony in New Delhi, India on November 29.
Joining the Emirati pair is China captain and Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Zheng Zhi.
Khalil, 24, has enjoyed a stunning 2015, helping Al Ahli reach the final of the Asian Champions League where they will take on Gunagzhou Evergrande in the second leg on Saturday. The tie is in the balance after a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Rashid Stadium.
[Abdulrahman and Khalil lead UAE past Malaysia in 2018 World Cup qualifier — in pictures]
Khalil has also proved his pedigree on the international stage, scoring four goals at the AFC Asian Cup in Australia where the UAE won the bronze medal. He is also the second highest goalscorer in the Fifa 2018 World Cup Asian qualifiers with 10 goals as the UAE bid to reach their first World Cup since 1990.
Meanwhile, Abdulrahman makes the list after a year that has seen the midfielder lead Al Ain to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and play a central role in the UAE’s third-place finish at the Asian Cup.
Regarded as one of the finest talents in Asian football, Abdulrahman continues to be vital to the hopes of his club and country. Al Ain currently top the Arabian Gulf League table, while his two goals and string of assisrs for the UAE have helped in their bid to reach Russia.
[UAE and Saudi Arabia move closer to crunch 2018 World Cup qualifying showdown]
Khalil and Abdulrahman face stiff competition for the award from Zheng, the 2013 AFC Player of the Year. Zheng, 35, has helped Guangzhou clinch a fifth straight Chinese Super League title as well as reach the Champions League final. He scored the crucial goal in Guangzhou’s semi-final victory against Japan’s Gamba Osaka, and was captain of the China team that reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup.
Nominated for the three-player shortlist on the women’s side are Japan captain Aya Miyama, the 2011 and 2012 AFC Women’s Player of the Year, Australia midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight, and Japan midfielder Rumi Utsagi.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Looming%20global%20slowdown%20and%20recession%20in%20key%20economies%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Russia-Ukraine%20war%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Interest%20rate%20hikes%20and%20the%20rising%20cost%20of%20debt%20servicing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Oil%20price%20volatility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Persisting%20inflationary%20pressures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Exchange%20rate%20fluctuations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shortage%20of%20labour%2Fskills%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20A%20resurgence%20of%20Covid%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GOODBYE%20JULIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohamed%20Kordofani%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiran%20Riak%2C%20Eiman%20Yousif%2C%20Nazar%20Goma%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
