AGL champions Al Ahli dominate end-of-season awards shortlist

Sport360 staff 12:19 15/05/2014
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  • In the running: Al Ahli's title-winning captain Grafite is shortlisted for best foreign player.

    Champions Al Ahli will be hoping for a clean sweep of the major prizes at the Arabian Gulf League end of season awards on Saturday night.

    The Red Knights have representation in all the major categories after the league’s committee announced the shortlists on Wednesday night.

    Unsurprisingly, head coach Cosmin Olaroiu is up for Manager of the Year, after collecting his third league championship in as many years following back-to-back wins wih Al Ain in 2012 and 2013.

    He is up against Jose Peseiro who expertly guided Al Wahda to the runners-up spot and AFC Champions League qualification, and Paulo Bonamigo, whose impressive Sharjah side finished an excellent fourth in their first season since promotion.

    The Dubai club also have two contenders in the Emirati Player of the Year category with Ismail Al Hamadi and Majed Hassan up against Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout.

    The Foreign Player of the Year award features some of the league’s finest goalscorers with the division’s leading marksman Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain) facing stiff competition from Al Wahda’s prolific Seabstian Tagliabue and Al Ahli’s Grafite.

    Saturday’s function, at the St Regis, Abu Dhabi Corniche, will start at 16:15 with the draw ceremony for the 2014-2015 editions of the Arabian Gulf League and Arabian Gulf Cup. The prize giving will start at 17:30.

    THE CONTENDERS

    Rookie of the year
    Ahmed Rabeya – Al Jazira
    Ali Salmeen – Al Wasl
    Yousif Saeed – Sharjah

    Goalkeeper of the year
    Ali Khaseif – Al Jazira
    Mohamed Yousif – Sharjah
    Saif Yousif – Al Ahli

    Coach of the year
    Cosmin Olaroiu – Al Ahli
    Jose Peseiro – Al Wahda
    Paulo Bonamigo – Sharjah

    Foreign player of the year
    Asamoah Gyan – Al Ain
    Grafite – Al Ahli
    Sebastian Tagliabue – Al Wahda

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