Hazza bin Zayed International Under-17 Football Tournament breakout star Zayed Abdulla has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of UAE icon Omar Abdulrahman, according to victorious Al Jazira coach Beto.
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Abdulla, 17, was handed the Player of the Tournament award last night after playing a leading role in the Pride of Abu Dhabi’s triumph at the annual competition.
They emerged as champions thanks to a 4-3 penalty win against La Liga outfit Espanyol, playmaker Abdulla scoring a sensational volley during normal time’s 1-1 stalemate. The shaggy-haired UAE youth international had already scored twice in the group stage against Egypt’s Al Ahly and eventual third-placed finishers Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia.
His incisive dribbling and vision saw him picked ahead of highly-rated prospects from across the world for the premier personal prize, including those at Premier League team West Ham United and Serie A giants Internazionale.
Abdulla’s displays had echoes of Abdulrahman’s at the Garden City event in 2009, the Asian Cup hero being rapidly promoted to the Al Ain first team after excelling throughout.
When asked whether Abdulla could eventually repeat the UAE playmaker’s achievements, Beto replied: “Why not? Of course he could. He is also a great, great, great player. He has a big career in the future.”
‘We are the champions’ rings round as @AlJazira_uae celebrate #HBZU17 triumph @Sport_360 https://t.co/hmlGmzBsX1
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) March 31, 2015
He added: “I think he is the next star in UAE football. He has the big potential to be the perfect player here. Of course, thanks to this tournament we can show this kind of player against teams from Europe. I am struggling to say anymore, he is a superstar.”
A tight game in Al Ain exploded after the break. Abdulla produced an astounding opener on 59 minutes, perfect chest control allowing him to hold off Periquitos skipper Marti Soler and volley into the top corner while stretching.
Espanyol pair Ruben Enri and Javi Puado then missed a succession of chances before the latter finally struck, tapping in lively substitute Jordan Gutierrez’s low centre when unmarked at the back post.
The spot kicks were a rollercoaster affair, Steven Nicarno’s miss for the Spaniards proving key, allowing Jazira prospect Yousif Al Ameri to dispatch the winner.
Jazira’s victory was made all the more remarkable as they were called up to the six-day tournament on March 26’s opening day after Tunisians Al Afriqi’s late withdrawal.
“This is a feeling you cannot explain,” Beto said. “It was my birthday on March 26 and I was buying a cake for my wife and friends. I received a call saying we had to get the players to Al Ain by midday. I told the players just to enjoy it, but I have known this team for three years and I knew they wanted to win.”
