Sultan Rashid is the Ambassador of the AFC Champions League 2019.. The Boss Challenges KSA’s Al Hilal in the Strongest Group
The AFC has selected Al Ain former football player, Sultan Rashid, Board Member of Al Ain Club Football Company and Sports Directors, to participate in the ceremony dedicated for the AFC Champions League 2019 draw held in Kuala Lumpur recently.
The AFC introduced Sultan Rashid “known as the Matador” as the Ambassador of the AFC Champions League 2019 and the UAE and his club representative considering that Al Ain Club won the title of the first AFC Championship League in its new version in 2003. Sultan Rashid was selected by the AFC as a replacement of the team’s captain, Salim Joahar, who apologized for inevitable personal circumstances. Sultan was selected for being one of the prominent midfielders in Al Ain FC and the UAE National Team.
Al Ain’s Sports Director participated in the draw dedicated for the distribution of the Saudi Arabia and UAE teams qualifying for the 2019 Champions League on the West Asian teams for the UAE and Saudi Arabia leagues were classified as the highest ranked among the leagues of the participating teams. The draw put Al Ain, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Esteghlal Tehran and Al-Dahil in Group C.
On this occasion, Sultan Rashid stated: “I hope that Al Ain or the other Emirati clubs participating in other groups will be able to regain the title of the dearest league back again to our beloved homeland.”
Being honoured to be the Ambassador of the 2019 Champions League, Sultan Rashid said: “It is a great honour for me and for all my colleagues who successfully won the title of the first edition of the strongest competition in Asia. I was so happy to be selected also to distribute the Emirati and Saudi clubs among the groups of the league.”
“Representing the UAE in such continental events is very important and gives us all great honour and pride,” he added. Rashid extended his deepest appreciation for the AFC and UAEFA in this occasion to represent the 2003 golden generation who was crowned with the title of the AFC Champions League in its first edition. “I do believe that it is a great occasion to remember the happy historical moments that brought joy and pleasure to every Emirati and lover of Zayed’s homeland. We pay all due attribute to Almighty God and then the eminent care, insight and generous support of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Chairman of Al Ain Club and Chairman of Al Ain Club Honorary Council and H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Council, First Vice President of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, First Vice President of the Honorary Council & Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, and the outstanding support of all Sheikhs and members of Al Ain Club Honorary Council
He added: “I would also like to thank my teammates who have pledged to put the name of UAE on the golden honour board of the Asian continent and have succeeded in turning the supreme care and unlimited support into a historic achievement and they are: Salem Jawhar, Fahad Ali, Sbait Khater, Walid Salem, Motaz Abdullah, Jumaa Khater , Abdulla Ali, Hamid Fakher, Abu Bakr Sango, Gharib Hareb, Mohammed Omar, Hilal Saeed, Ali Msarri, Rami Yassin, Ali Al Wohaibi, Rodrigo Mendes, Amin Afano, Farhad Majidi, Kandia Traorey, Omar Gharib, Faisal Ali, Shehab Ahmed, Zakariyya Ahmed Ali Sultan, Ishaq, Ali Rashid, Ali Sultan, Mohammed Rashid, Mohammed Awad and Ahmed Saeed. Also, not to forget the coaching team, administrative and medical staff under the command of the Chairman of the Executive Committee at the time, H.E. Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Chairman of the General Authority for Sports and the General Supervisor of the Team, H.E. Hamad Bin Nukhirat Al Ameri, Managing Director and late Head Coach the French Abdul Karim Metsu and the team’s captain Matar Obaid Al Dhahiri “Al Sahbani”, Ahmed Abdullah, assistant coach, the Tunisian Mohamed Al-Mansi, assistant coach and the loyal Ainawi fans.
The AFC Approved the Boss’ Kit in the Asian Champions League
During the workshop held for teams participating in the AFC Champions League 2019, the AFC has approved the Boss’ official sport kit in the competition. It has been approved that Al Ain will wear the white t-shirts with purple strips as the official kit and the black t-shirts with purple strips as substitute.
Al Sahbani’s Brother Passed Away
Al Ain Football Club addressed an official letter to the AFC through the UAEFA regretting that Matar Obeid Al Dhaheri “Al Sahbani”, Al Ain Team Manager, who was tasked to be the head of Al Ain delegation would not attend the workshop and the ceremony of the AFC Champions League 2019 draw for his brother passed away hours prior flying to Kuala Lumpur.
