Al Jazira defender Musallem Fayez believes the club’s current crop of talented Emirati youngsters can become among the best players in the UAE in the next few years, but has pleaded for fans to be patient with them.
The likes of Salim Rashed, Salem Ali, Sultan Al Suwaidi, Sultan Al Shamsi, Saif Khalfan, Ahmed Al Attas, Khalfan Mubarak and Ahmed Rabeya are all 23 or under and have been given substantial game time this season.
Only defender Khalfan, 23, who has spent time out injured, has played less than 10 games, while 22-year-old Al Suwaidi (18) has seen the most game-time of any of the new generation in 2015-16.
Fayez, 28, has featured prominently under new Dutch coach Henk ten Cate and the centre-back feels their time will come.
“We have good young players. We have a dream to play with them for Al Jazira. Maybe after two seasons I think they will become the best players in the UAE,” said Fayez.
“Inshallah they will keep getting better, but I think the fans and the club have to be patient with them.
“They are playing in the team and sometimes they will play very good, but it is a lot of pressure for young players to deal with.
“Maybe they don’t play many games and then they play one game but don’t play again for a while, like Saif Khalfan, who has not played for a while.
“Against Al Ain he played and he played very well for 45 minutes. I think they will get better and their time will come, Inshallah.”
