I Realized My Top Targets by Joining Al Ain Squad.. Soufiane Rahimi: Ainawi Nation Never Looks Back and Always Look Forward to More Achievements in Future
I Disagree with Those Believing That Winning Al Wahda Away Match Meant Winning the League Title
Being on Coronation Podiums was the Best Moments of the Past Season
The Spirit of One Family Dominates the Camp Climate
UAE League One of the Strongest Arab Leagues
We Welcome and Congrats El Mehdi El Moubarik forJoining the Ainawi Family
I Wished Not Denying My Goal Against Bani Yas
We All Appreciate the Boss’ Fans for Supporting the Players and Motivational Messages Addressed to Players in the Away Camp
Unique Experience
In an exclusive interview with the Al Ain Club official website, the Moroccan “international”, Soufiane Rahimi, player of Al Ain Team said: “My experience with Al Ain Team in the first season was special for I achieved my top goals in my professional career. I moved from my previous club joining a large club that enjoys the culture of winning titles and trophies, in addition of their largest grassroots.”
He added: “Indeed, I moved from a large club in Morocco, Raja Club Athletic, so I had to join a big club and enter into a new challenge through which I enhance the balance of my championships and reap more achievements.”
“In my first season with the Boss squad, we won the ADNOC Pro League and PLC Pro Cup. Sights are set to win more championships and make Al Ain fans happy. We promise them to push ourselves to the limit to fight for the team’s badge,” he said.
Belonging to Al Ain Squad
Commenting on a question about what it means for him to affiliate with Al Ain Team, he said: “It means a lot to me. Al Ain Club is great sports entity for their remarkable leadership and fans inside and outside the UAE. Following joining the Boss squad, I discovered that abundant number of fans of Raja Club Athletic became followers of Al Ain Club.”
He stated: “In short, Al Ain is not a mere sports club and thank God I became a member of this lofty club.”
I Am Not a Stranger
Soufiane pointed out that since joining the squad he never felt that he is a stranger and swiftly adapt to the team for the spirit of the one family that dominates the climate here and how players and staff interact with each other.
He said: “I want to avail this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Club’s leadership who established the club’s superb values. I want also to thank the Board of Directors of the Al Ain Football Club Company, coaching teams, admin staff, medical staff and the loyal fans for their warm welcome, in addition to the unlimited support and back up. Actually, this reflected positively on my performance and feel I am one of this great club.”
He added: “It is a fact that whoever lives in the UAE cannot feel indifferent at all, and everyone who lives in this country finds him connected to the UAE and its wise leadership and its decent. I can assure you that there is no difference here between everyone. Upon my arrival to the UAE, I found fans of all nationalities supporting me and my fellow players.”
Competition to Win Titles
On his opinion on the competition to win the ADNOC Professional League title, he said: “I believe that the UAE League is currently classified as one of the strongest ones in the Arab world, given signing best players to local clubs coming from the best and toughest European, Arab, African and Asian leagues. Add to that the presence of best and quality coaches that added more value to the league and the level of competitionamong clubs last season. It was not easy for us and pushed us to do our best until the end of season.”
I Disagree with Them
Responding to a question about the match in which he felt that Al Ain had actually won the league title, he said: “Everyone believes that our match against Al Wahda was the one that paved the way to win the league title. Indeed, that was not true as we played four tough and decisive matches against Al Wasl, Shabab Al Ahli, Al Dhafra, and Al Jazira.”
He went on to say: “If you ask me and my fellow players when we felt that we are so close to win the league title, I tell you that was by the end of our match against Al Jazira. It was that at time when we announced earlier we are the league champions. We believed that things were decided at the time, as it is possible that we would not win the title because football only recognizes the language of giving and any confrontation in the league is always considered more difficult than the previous one. We all vowed to be up to the challenge and held accountable for defending the Boss badge. Thank God we did it and won the title.”
Family Spirit
Commenting on the team’s current camp in Austria, he said: “The most important features of Al Ain Team away camp is the one-family spirit, players’ commitment and seriousness in training despite the hard work and stress at this important stage due to intensive training in the morning and evening, in addition to the friendly matches program, during which we play two matches within 24 hours, and not to forget the recovery programs. However, everyone is working hard since we are well aware that the fruits of the camp’s efforts are always harvested at the end of the season, God willing.”
My Message to the Mahdi
As for his compatriot Mahdi Mubarak joining the team’s lineup, he said: “Firstly, I would like to welcome and congratulate him on the occasion of joining the Boss squad. Indeed, he is a distinguished player and possesses the talent and high skills. Once he received Al Ain Club’s offer, we had a friendly chat about it.”
He added: “He joined the team with full conviction and I hope he succeeds and be of an added value. I told him that I am here and you will never walk alone. I mentioned to him you cannot feel alienated in Al Ain Club and the UAE as whole.”
Exceptional Season
Commenting on having Andriy Yarmolenko and Matias Palaciosonboard and seeing Meriah and Cristian Guanca leaving the squad, he said: “First of all, I wish Yassin Meriah and Cristian Guanca all the best of luck. Also, I am pleased to see Yarmolenko and Argentine Matias Palacios joining the Boss squad. I hope that they will be successful and add more teeth to the squad.”
Al Ain Fans
Commenting on a question about the team’s ambitions after winning the double trophies last season, he said: “Al Ain Club used to represent UAE in the best way in local and externalcompetitions. Our ambitions are certainly as players to participate in the AFC Champions League and paly the FIFA Clubs World Cup to achieve new records and unprecedented achievements.”
“However, we speak the language of reality and we have to focus on the current competitions but not denying the efforts exerted by every member of the club and team to win the double trophies. We have the cups on our closets and looking forward to adding more to our records.”
He also said: “You will not find any Ainawi wherever thinking about the past as we all look to the future and enhance the balance of our achievements. We pray to be granted success.”
The Atlas Lions
Regarding joining in the lineup of the Moroccan National Football Team participating in the World Cup, he said: “I hope to be selected to join the national team and represent my homeland in the World Cup in Qatar. This is the ambition of every player in the world for sure. We look forward to making the Moroccan people happy. They deserve the joy and we hope to offer them.”
The Most Beautiful Moments
And about the most beautiful moments he experienced last season, he said: “We had unlimited happy moments last season that I can’t count them, but the moments ingrained in our minds are when we honored twice for winning the PLC Pro Cup and the ADNOC Pro League titles.”
A Memorable Goal Scored In The Last Season
Commenting on a question about the goal that is still stuck in his memory from last season, he said: “All the goals and passes that contributed to winning opponents in the League and the Professional Cup are certainly remembered. Indeed, it is not a secret to tell you I wished the referee approved my goal against Bani Yas Team. It was denied as the assistant referee pointed to an offside situation. If he did not do so, it will be the best goal in the league.”
Motivational Messages
Concluding his statements, Soufiane Rahimi addressed a message to Al Ain fans saying: “We thank you so much for your motivational messages and your sustained support in this camp. We will be waiting to seeing you all at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, God willing, once we start the new season.”
