Qatar and Al Sadd star Afif bags QFA’s best player award
Fom left: Best coach Jesualdo Ferreira of Al Sadd, best under-23 player Bassam al-Rawi of Al Duhail, best player Akram Afif of Al Sadd and Mansour Muftah award winner for top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah of Al Sadd pose with their trophies during the annual QFA awards gala at QNCC yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil
Qatar and Al Sadd striker Akram Afif bagged the prestigious best player award at the Qatar Football Association’s annual awards gala held yesterday evening at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
Afif played a stellar role in Qatar winning the Asian Cup in the UAE earlier this year and was a force to reckon with for his club Al Sadd who won the QNB Stars League title last month for the 14th time in history.
“It’s a great honour to win the award especially because there are so many good players in Qatar,” Afif, 22, said after receiving his award from QFA Vice President Saoud al-Mohannadi.
“I thank the QFA, my coaches (Felix Sanchez of the national team and Jesualdo Ferreira of Al Sadd) and of course my colleagues for helping me win this honour,” he added.
Afif beat his club mate Baghdad Bounedjah and national team colleague Almoez Ali for the top honour. Afif scored 26 goals and provided 15 assists in 22 QSL matches this season.
An array of dignitaries who included officials, celebrities, heads of clubs, coaches, players and media representatives attended the awards ceremony.
Meanwhile, Portuguese tactician Jesualdo Ferreira of Al Sadd was named as the best coach of 2018-19 season. He fended off the challenge from Al Sailiya’s Tunisian boss Sami Trabelsi and Al Shahania’s Spanish trainer Jose Murcia.
Ferreira, who guided Al Sadd to the league triumph, helped The Wolves set many records in the tournament. Al Sadd scored a record number of 100 goals in 22 matches, winning 18 of them, drawing three and losing one. They conceded only 22 goals to have a goal difference of +78, the most by any team.
Ferreira had won the same award in the 2016-17 season as well.
The best under-23 player award was bagged by Al Duhail and Qatar national team defender Bassam al-Rawi. He won the competition ahead of Al Ahli’s Abdulrahman Fahmy and Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan.
Bassam, who played an important role in Qatar’s success in the Asian Cup early this year, is a versatile defender. He is known for putting up consistent performances.
Bassam has great technical as well as physical abilities and is a key member in Qatar national team coach Felix Sanchez’s scheme of things.
Bassam was loaned out to Celta Vigo in 2015 and KAS Eupen in 2016 by Al Rayyan. He returned in 2017 to Al Rayyan and then moved to Al Duhail.
Stars League team coaches, Qatar national team coach, Qatar Olympic team coach, team managers, media representatives, representative of QFA, representative of Qatar Stars League (QSL), as well as president and Board Members of QFA participated in the voting process.
Al Sailiya’s coach Sami Trabelsi and club’s Vice-President Ali bin Rashid al-Marri received Special Recognition mementoes from QFA Vice President Saoud Abdulaziz al-Mohannadi.
A short video on former Qatar international and media personality Obaid Juma, who passed away during the season, was shown at the ceremony.
Other awards
Football For All Award
This award is given to individual/individuals or institution who contribute to the growth of football culture in the society.
The Yarmouk Preparatory School for Boys won the award for its role in organising sports events and activities. The most notable among them was the schools’ football festival held on 21st November, 2018, under the auspices of Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and QSL. More than 350 students, representing 30 schools, participated in it.
QFA Board Member Ahmed Abdulaziz al-Boenain presented the award to school Principal Ibrahim al-Aidan.
Best Referees
Abdulrahman al-Jassim, Taleb Salem al-Marri and Saoud Ahmed were adjudged the Best Referees. This award was first instituted in the 2016-17 season in recognition of the efforts of referees.
The award was presented by Qatar’s former FIFA referee Rustam Bakr.
Top Scorer (Mansour Muftah Award)
Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah of Al Sadd won the Mansour Muftah Award for the top scorer, having netted a record number of 39 goals in the QNB Stars League. He played a crucial role in Al Sadd’s triumph in the tournament.
Bounedjah received the award from former star Egyptian footballer Mohamed Aboutrika.