UAE's Khalil is Young Player of Year

Abu Dhabi, Nov 26, 2008 (WAM) - The UAE and Al Ahli striker Ahmad Khalil was named AFC Young Player of the Year in the AFC annual awards held in Shanghai on Tuesday night according to a report in “Gulf News.”

Khalil, who is 17, played a significant role in UAE winning the AFC Under 19 championships, which were recently held in Saudi Arabia.
The gifted young player was named the championships MVP as well as the top goal scorer with four goals.

Khalil dedicated his award to his family. He said: "It's a very good feeling to win this award and I want to present it to all my family members particularly to my mother and brother. This award is also an achievement for UAE football too."

Khalil got the nod ahead of Sherzodek Karimov of Uzbekistan and Lee Jong-ho of Korea Republic.

The AFC Young Player of the Year award completes a remarkable hat-trick for him after winning the MVP and top scorer awards.
But he said he was not about to rest on his laurels as the UAE head to the Fifa Under 20 World cup as Asian champions.
He said: "My next goal is the World cup next year. I want to score more goals. Do not worry we will do our best."
Ahmad Khalil broke into Al Ahli senior team when he was just 15. He played for the UAE at Under 16 and now with the Under 19 levels.