DOHA: Al Sadd on Sunday swooped three top prizes when striker Khalfan
Ibrahim was declared the Player of the Year while Huessin Amuta was
named the Coach of the Year.

At a glittering Qatar Football Association (QFA) awards gathering,
Ibrahim edged Spanish giant and Al Sadd teammate Raul and Madison of
Al Khor for the top award.

Ibrahim scored 10 goals and was instrumental in his side's winning
performances in the last nine months.

Moroccan Amute guided Al Sadd to the Qatar Stars League (QSL) title
win and then saw his side reach their Heir Apparent Cup and Emir Cup
finals.

Al Sadd's Abdul Karim Hassan was named Young Player of the Year after
beating contender Abdul Azizi of Al Kharaitiyat.

Amuta nudged Belgian Eric Gerets, the Lekhwiya coach, and Romanian
Laszlo Boloni of Al Khor for the Best Coach of the Year prize.

The Best Team Manager Award went to Jaffal Kuwari of Al Khor.

Al Sadd and Al Rayyan ran the best fans programmes during the 2012-13
season, it emerged.

The QFA awards night was held at Aspire Dome.

DOHA: The Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani hosted on Sunday
at the Emiri Diwan a luncheon banquet in honour of  players,
technical and administrative apparatus of Al Rayyan football team.

Al Rayyan on Saturday beat Al Sadd 2-1 in the final of the Emir Cup,
the most popular football tournament in the country.

Members of Al Sadd Sports Club were also present as were media
personalities. The Emir Cup final was played at the Khalifa
International Stadium.

The function was attended by the Emir's Personal Representative HH
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

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DOHA: Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre on Saturday was full of praise for
his side after they won the Emir Cup, the most popular football
tournament in the country.

Backed by first-half goals from Brazilian Nilmar and captain Fabio
Cesar, Al Rayyan won 2-1 at Khalifa International Stadium.

For Al Sadd, the only goal of the match was scored by Spanish giant
Raul in the 56th minute.

"I am very happy and proud of my team. They did a great job in winning
this title," Aguirre said.

"They proved that they deserve this title. It was a collective
effort," he added. "It was important for us to end the season with a
win," he said.

Hamid Ismail, the Al Rayyan defender, was chuffed with the title win.

"It didn't look as if we would take such a big lead. We were a little
hesitant at the start but we turned things around as we fired two
quick goals," Ismail said.

"I thank our backroom staff. They took great care of the players in
the season. It was a tough match," he added.

"We remained focused in the final. I feel the players played according
to the plans set by our coach. It was a challenge for our players and
we emerged victorious," Ismail said.

"It was a beautiful game with both teams fighting for the win.
Hopefully we would do well in the future also," he said.

"I cannot describe the feeling. I don't remember such a huge crowd
with Al Rayyan flags," Ismail said.

DOHA: Al Rayyan skipper and midfielder Fabio Cesar on Saturday thanked
fans for support after his side won the Emir Cup by beating Al Sadd in
the final.

Cesar had a hand in both goals as Al Rayyan won 2-1 at Khalifa
International Stadium. Brazilian striker Nilmar scored the first goal
on a pass from Cesar while the midfielder converted a penalty minutes
later for side's second goal.

"I want to thank our fans and our family members for their support,"
Al Rayyan skipper Fabio Cesar said after receiving the trophy from the
Emir.

"Our fans came to support us in large numbers. Their support was
crucial," the 34-year-old midfielder added. "Al Rayyan played a tough
game against a tough side".

"I must congratulate Al Sadd on their great campaign this season," the
Qatar national team player said.

Rodrigo Tabata, the Al Rayyan strike, said team effort helped the side
win the Emir Cup.

"I have to say that (coach Diego) Aguirre did very well throughout the
season," Tabata said.

"Also, I would also like to thank the medical staff, the backroom
coaches and the members of our team who are always there at every
match.

"It was a team effort and everyone deserves credit for this win," Tabata said.

DOHA: Al Rayyan on Saturday beat Al Sadd to bag the Emir Cup for the
sixth time at a packed at Khalifa International Stadium.

Playing an aggressive brand of football, Al Rayyan edged past Al Sadd
to win the title clash 2-1.

Watched by H H the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Al
Rayyan's overseas import Nilmar of Brazil (6) and captain Fabio Cesar
(8, penalty) found the net early in the final.

For Al Sadd, Spanish giant Raul scored in the 56th minute.

In the 6th minute, Cesar chipped in a cross from near the flagpost.
Nilmar, stationed inside the Al Sadd box, successfully scored from
close range.

Two minutes later, Abdul Karim brought down Nilmar inside the box with
a rash and needless tackle that won Al Rayyan a penalty.

Captain Cesar, who decided to take the spot kick, aimed for the right
of goalkeeper Saad Abaullah as Al Rayyan went 2-0 up within a space of
just two minutes.

Five minutes from the end of the first half, Hassan Al Haydos fired a
long-range bullet that crashed into Al Rayyan goalpost and bounced
back much to the dismay of flag-waving Al Sadd fans.

In the 56th minute, Raul orchestrated a slick move and scored for his team.

Raul, 35, fired a ball to Mohammed Kasola on the right flank. Kasola
chipped the ball back to one of the strikers but a the ball bounced
off and landed at Raul's feet.

Standing on the edge of the box, Raul curled one past Al Rayyan
goalkeeper Omar Barry for his side's only strike.

In the dying minutes of the match, Al Rayyan's midfielder Alvaro
Fernandez was stretchered off the pitch for what seemed like a broken
elbow.

The 27-year-old Uruguyan fell heavily in a collision with two Al Sadd
players and landed on his right hand.

The match attracted a capacity crowd of 50,000 fans at Khalifa Stadium.
 

DOHA: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of Qatar
Football Association (QFA), on Thursday met with Carlos Mendez, chief
of the Salvadoran Football Association (SFA).

The two officials discussed matters of common interest and ways to
boost football in the two countries, QFA officials said.

Other officials of QFA and SFA were also present during the meeting.

Sheikh Hamad later presented a memento to SFA chief.

DOHA: With Al Sadd and Al Rayyan locking horns in the final of the
Emir Cup on Saturday, the stage is set for an 'incredible finish' to
the football season in the country, Qatar Football Association (QFA)
president said on Friday.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani said: "There is no doubt
that this has been a great season for many teams for many reasons. The
two teams in the Emir Cup final give us the feeling that it would be a
great finish to the season."

The QFA chief said the H H the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
will grace the final to be played on Saturday.

"The football festival we've run in the last few weeks has been well
received," Sheikh Hamad said.
"I think the Emir Cup final presents a perfect scenario for what has
been an interesting football season," he added.

"We know that football fans in the country wait for the Emir Cup final
and here it is," he said. "The response of the public for the final
and to the tournament tells us how they feel about this event," the
QFA chief explained.

"We have made arrangements for a family's day outside the Khalifa
International Stadium," he said.

"We wish the finalists a great match," he said. "Al Sadd and Al Rayyan
are two of the finest teams in Qatar. They have experienced players,"
he said.
 

DOHA: Spanish giant Raul and Khalfan Ibrahim Khalfan – both of Al Sadd
– and Al Khor’s Brazilian star Madison are in running for Best Player
of the Year award, it was announced on Wednesday.

One of the three players will be announced at the winner on May 19
when Qatar Stars League (QSL) marks the end of the 2012-13 season with
a gala dinner at Aspire Dome.

The QFA Awards ceremony will take place one day after the final of the
Emir Cup on May 18.

The special ceremony celebrates the best talent that has been on offer
for the last nine months. The total prize pot for the winners is an
incredible QR 1.2 million.

As part of the process for deciding the winners, the QSL formed a
special committee to decide on the winners of each award. Abdulrahman
Al Dosari, QSL’s Chief of Commercial, overseas the committee as
General Secretary.

On Wednesday, Al Dosari and Hassan Al Kuwari, Head of Events and
Hospitality, hosted a press conference to reveal the nominees for this
year’s awards.

Al Dosari said: “We would like to congratulate everyone at the end of
this excellent sports season. There have been a lot of enjoyment and
surprises. We would like to congratulate Al Sadd for winning the
league and Lekhwiya for winning the Heir Apparent Cup. Come Sunday we
will have more congratulations for Al Sadd and Al Rayyan as they
contest the Emir Cup final on Saturday."

He added: “I would also like to congratulate the teams doing so well
in the Champions League and GCC Cup. This has been an excellent season
and now is the time to recognize it."

Young Player of the Year is between Al Sadd’s Abdulkarim Hassan, Al
Arabi’s Mohammed Al Kuwari and Al Kharaitiyat’s Abdulaziz Al Ansari.

Top scorer for the season has been decided with Lekhwiya’s Sebastian
Soria coming out on top with 19 goals.

There is an award for the best club committee, which will be contested
by Al Sadd, Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan.

The best management team is also up for grabs. Al Sadd have been
nominated for the stability of the club, Lekhwiya for the dramatic and
effective changes and Al Khor for the best use of limited resources.

Coach of the Year is between Al Sadd’s Hussein Amotta, Laszlo Boloni
of Al Khor and Eric Gerets at Lekhwiya.

There will also be a Fair Play Award announced on the night. This is
special recognition of the clubs who have gone the extra mile doing to
live up to the values of fair play and sporting integrity throughout
the season.

The nominations were decided after 135 voting forms were sent to the
media, club technical staff and managers.

Al Dosari added: “We would like to thank everyone who participated in
this evaluation."

The presentation will begin at 8pm with dinner served to the guests at 8.30pm.

Riyadh: Lekhwiya grabbed the initiative in their AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash with Saudi giants Al Hilal as a late deflected goal by Youssef AL Msakni gave them a 1-0 away win in the first leg on Wednesday.

The match at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium looked to be headed for a goalless draw until the Tunisian’s effort from the edge of the box in the 81st minute nicked off Ozeia (Ozéia de Paula Maciel) and rolled past a wrong-footed Abdullah Mohammed into the bottom right corner of the net.

It meant a happy return to Riyadh for Lekhwiya coach Eric Gerets, who was in charge of Al Hilal when they reached the AFC Champions League semi-finals in 2010, although the Belgian remained cautious about his team’s chances ahead of the return match next Wednesday.

"We should not be too happy with this result as there is still another match to play in Doha,” said Gerets.

“We had few chances in the match and we only had one chance in the first half but still we managed to score and get an important win.

"We were lucky to score because the shot of Msakni changed its direction but this happens in football. We still have a big job to do and we must focus on the second leg in order to advance to the quarter-finals."

Al Hilal had the better of the chances in the first half. Abdulla Zori had his stinging drive pushed out for a corner by goalkeeper Amine Lecomte in the 10th minute while Salem Al Dawsari curled a shot just over the crossbar five minutes later.

The home side’s best opportunity arrived late in the half when Wesley (Wesley Lopez da Silva) was picked out in the six-yard box by an excellent through pass by Mohammed Al Shalhoub. The Brazilian spun and shot only to be denied by an excellent save by Lecomte

Chances were few and far between in the second half although Lekhwiya’s Adel Lamy could have done better in the 57th minute when he was set up by Issiar Dia’s clever backheel but dragged his shot from the edge of the box wide of the target.

Al Hilal lacked ideas in the final third and they were appealing for a penalty with nine minutes to go when Yasser Al Qahtani appeared to be fouled in the box by Dame Traore when Lekhwiya went on the counterattack.

Msakni received the ball on the right edge of the Al Hilal box and with the home team’s defenders backing off, he lined up a shot which took a wicked deflection off Ozeia which left goalkeeper Mohammed helpless.

“It was a difficult match for us and unfortunately we didn’t have the players who can make the difference against such a strong team like Lekhwiya who put in a good performance tonight and won the match,” said Al Hilal coach Zlatko Dalic.

“The defeat came about today because of some individual mistakes which allowed our opponents to get the upper hand with an important victory. We were unlucky today while Lekhwiya were fortunate to score and to return home with a win.”