DUBAI // Yousif Abdelrahman, the Al Ain and youth national team goalkeeper, was due to undergo surgery yesterday after sustaining serious injuries in a car crash. The 21-year-old player suffered fractures to his jaw and cheek bones and clavicle in the crash which happened on Thursday. He had been travelling from his home town Kalba to attend the club's final training before yesterday's Pro League match with Al Nasr.
"He was involved in a car crash in Al Dhaid on Thursday and was rushed to the nearest hospital in that town, and later airlifted to Dubai," Khalid Mustafa, the media manager of the club, said. "We really don't know how long it would take for him to recover but the club's top management and officials of the UAE Football Association were beside him and have extended their fullest support for his medical treatment and fast recovery."
He was transported by helicopter from Al Dhaid Hospital to the Rashid Hospital in Dubai. Officials from the Al Ain club and fellow players visited him in hospital. His condition was described as "stable". Abdelrahman is tipped to become the first-choice goalkeeper for the national side. He started his career with his home club Kalba before Al Ain signed him up last season on a five-year contract.
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