First Ainawi Player to Score in Al Ain and Al Dhafra Confrontations.. Faisal Ali: I won with the Boss 13 Titles in 10 Years
Failed Surgery was almost to put an end to my career
Feisal Ali, Al Ain former player and currently a coach in Al Ain Football Academy, kicked off his career with Al Ain First Football Team in 1999. He is one of the prominent players in UAE for his high potentials and quality skills. Moreover, he is the Ainawi striker who stung all the clubs’ nets wearing Al Ain jersey and the last goal he scored was against Al Nasr to confirm the fact that he is unusual striker.
Feisal resumed his career in football game but this time as a coach. He is known for his special training style of strikers as he gives strikers extra training time following the end of the regular training sessions to gain more skills in controlling the ball and upsurge their offensive skills. This worked will when he was coach assistant of Al Ain U-10 Team and the team’s two strikers, Khaled Al Neyyadi and Mubarak Khalfan, were the top scorers of the juniors’ league. last season, he succeeded in turning Issa Khalfan into a known star by scoring 45 goals.
Feisal Ali is a high caliber striker and he has his own magic touch in assists. He is also known for being the first Ainawi player to score against Al Dhafra.
We were honored to meet him today and had a delightful interview with him:
Tell us about your early days with the Boss!
As it is now known to be the dream club for each player locally, regionally and continentally, Al Ain is a target for all players for the club’s high capabilities and the club’s great and massive grassroots not only in UAE but also outside the State; of course, I am one of them! My story with Al Ain started in 1999 when I officially signed to the team as soon as I passed all technical and physical tests. Since then I have been honored to become an Ainawi player and defend the dearest logo. The head coach at that time was Tunisia’s Mohammed Al Mansi and played for 10 seasons.
What were the titles you won with Al Ain?
It is each Ainawi player’s right to be proud for being a member of Al Ain squad because its sun never sits in championships since ever. Today, we could see the players of U-18 team have succeeded in writing a new history for the team by winning more that one championship. This is what make Al Ain different with all due respect to all clubs.
He added: “While playing for Al Ain, I was able to win all championships and I did participate in all competitions excepts the Clubs World Cup which was cancelled in 2003 when the team won the AFC Champions League. that was a preventive measure at that year because of the spread of SARS disease. We won the league tile for 4 times out of which 3 times consecutively, the President’s Cup for 5 times, the Super Cup one time, Arabian Gulf Cup and Etisalat Cup one each and the AFC Champions League one time. The total is 13 titles.
The Prominent Championship?
All championships and competitions we took part in were so important and we experience exceptional moments of challenges, excitement and joy. However, winning the title of the AFC Champions League is still different as it represented the homeland’s joy and great moments. “Thank God for winning such a big challenge and hope to see this again in this season which coincides with Al Ain’s Golden Jubilee anniversary.
Memorable Match
It was our final match in the AFC Champions League against Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana. We won that match and crowned with the title of the first edition of the strongest championship in Asia.
A Memorable Goal and Why?
My goal against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal as it was an important match in the AFC Champions League. All Al Ain matches against Al Hilal are “Derbies” of west Asia not only within the scope of Gulf football.
A memorable press statement on Feisal’s performance!
I remember lots of news highlighting my skills and performance, but will never forget statements made the news made by Head Coach of Juventus, Italy’s Marcello Lippi following the end of the friendly match between Al Ain and Juventus. Al Ain won Juventus who were the Champs of Europe at that time and the head coach stated that Feisal Ali could be a professional player in Europe.
A Critical Goal Assist?
My pass to Mohammed Omar who scored Al Ain’s second goal in the first leg match against Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana in the AFC Champions League. the match was held in Al Ain and ended by winning the guest team by 2-0.
Your injuries precipitated your decision to quit football?
As a matter of fact, injuries are the nightmare for any football player. As for my problem with injuries, it started when I experienced a failed surgery in my knee. This led to be subject to frequent injuries and then the club received a medical report stating that I can not play football anymore. By 2009, my contract with Al Ain came to an end and I officially retired in 2015 following playing for Al Dhafra, Dubai and Al Orouba football clubs.
Your advice to young players, specially you are a former player and currently you are a football coach!
Stay away from staying all night, abide by an appropriate dietary and keep away from any distractions to sat tuned and focused in all matches.
Memorable Head Coaches
Tunisia’s Mohammed Al Mansi who granted me the real chance to join Al Ain squad. Also, the French head coach, Abdul Karim Metsu who developed my skills and made use of them in the right manner on the pitch.
Your current career as a football coach!
That happened by chance and it dated back when I registered my son, Hazza, at Al Ain Football Academy. It happened that I enrolled a training program to develop my technical skills and experience as a coach and felt so excited about the idea to be a coach. I did join one of the private football academies and received massive support and encouragement of the players’ parents for they noticed an explicit development in their children’s football skills.
A dream you realized and another you seek to achieve!
The dream I realized was winning the title of the AFC Champions League. As for the dream I am seeking to achieve is to develop my son’s skills to accomplish unprecedent achievements with AL Ain.
Tell us the story of your first goal while playing for Al Ain!
My first goal was against Iraqi’s Al Zaoraa in the AFC Champions League and it was the first contact point between me and Ainawi loyal fans.
Memorable teammates!
All my teammates are always in my mind as we are always in direct contact through the Legends Majlis established by Al Ain Club. indeed, I keep close relationships not only with my teammates, but also with former generations and with God welling with coming generations. The idea of the Legends Majlis is a brilliant one.
What about your goal against Al Dhafra which was the first goal in both teams’ confrontations!
I think I was lucky enough to score Al Ain’s first historic goal against Al Dhafra though Al Ain’s squad had numerous big names and stars at the time. However, as a player I always did my best to turn all my teammates efforts into goals.
Your technical view of today’s match!
I could say that the match will not be so difficult for Al Ain considering the team’s high potentials and difference in field experience and technical level of both teams. At the same time, we have to know that there is no easy mission for Al Ain but I do believe Al Ain will win their guest team.
Player’s ID:
Name: Feisal Ali
Date of Birth: 28/12/1981
Selected by Coach: Balatchi
Position: Striker
Marital Status: Married and has two sons and two daughters
