Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi, the president of the UAE Football Association, hopes Mohammed al Shehi will continue to shine for years to come after the Al Wahda star was named the "Footballer of the Year" of the etisalat league. Shehi was instrumental in pulling Al Wahda out of the relegation zone last season with some outstanding performances. The three-time national champions won their last five games to finish eighth in the 12-team league.
"It is always very difficult to decide the best player in the league, but I think we have made the right choice," said Rumaithi. "When selecting the Best Player of the Year, we see the kind of impact he has had on his team and the league. When we see what Mohammed al Shehi gave to Al Wahda last season, keeping in mind his age and experience, we believe he deserves the award. "He did not have a very good start to the season, because his club was struggling. But Al Wahda managed to turn around their season and one of the biggest contributors to that was Shehi. He scored nine goals for them.
"There were other good players as well, but they could not perform consistently. Shehi also got injured when he was at the peak of his form and missed two 2010 World Cup qualifiers. "I think this boy has really proved himself. He is a young player, but has a very bright future ahead of him. He is a very good player, very talented and I believe this award will give his confidence a boost. "I also would like to congratulate Al Jazira for winning the GCC Clubs Championship, the President's Cup winners Al Ahli and Al Shabab on their success in the etisalat Division One.
"We will be starting the new Pro-League and I hope we make it a success with a lot of hard work and the same dedication." @Email:arizvi@thenational.ae
