A rising star of UAE football had a narrow escape on the Emirates' roads on Wednesday night, just over a week after Theyab Awana, the national team midfielder, lost his life in an accident.
Haddaf Abdullah Al Ameri, the 18-year-old Al Ain and the UAE Olympic team midfielder, was involved in a car crash as he returned home after training at the club.
Al Ameri was taken to Tawan hospital where he underwent medical and MRI tests that confirmed that he has a contusion to his shoulder, but no serious injuries.
Al Ain players, staff and fans visited the recovering player in hospital yesterday.
A spokesman for the club said: "Thankfully he has not suffered serious injuries. He is been kept under observation for 24 hours at the Tawam Hospital in Al Ain."
Al Ameri's performances for Al Ain's youth teams last season had earned him a chance with the senior team.
He played for the UAE Under 17 team at the World Cup in Nigeria in 2009 and earned a call-up to the Olympic side in the summer.
Al Ameri was due to play against Al Jazira in the Etisalat Cup tonight.
Awana died on September 25 when the car he was driving collided with a lorry when returning to Abu Dhabi with his brother following a training session for Baniyas.
The attacking midfielder, 21, was part of UAE's golden generation of talented footballers. He played in the side that won the AFC U18 Championship in 2008, and was part of the UAE's squad at the U20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009.
