Speaking with: Ahmed Dida, Al Ahli’s great goalkeeping wall for Guangzhou

John McAuley speaks to Ahmed Dida, the Al Ahli man charged with keeping out China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in Saturday’s Asian Champions League final first leg.

Al Ahli keeper Ahmed Dida shown during an Arabian Gulf League match against Dibba last weekend. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National / October 31, 2015

The Al Ahli goalkeeper is the man charged with keeping out China's Guangzhou Evergrande in Saturday's Asian Champions League final first leg, which takes place at the Rashid Stadium. He spoke to John McAuley about the challenge ahead of the two-legged tie.

Ahli’s shot-stopper

Majed Naser’s six-match Champions League ban, caused by an altercation with a photographer in a group-stage clash against Tractor Sazi in Iran in March, opened the door for Dida, who took his place for all Asian matches since April. Naser plays in Ahli’s Arabian Gulf League fixtures.

History boys

The UAE side are only the second Emirati representative to contest a Champions League final, after Al Ain in 2003 and 2005. Ahli had never been past the group stages until this year, but they finished second in their group and then defeated Al Ain, Naft Tehran and Al Hilal to get to this point. Brazilians Rodrigo Lima and Everton Ribeiro have been their standouts.

Semi-celebrations

“The celebration after the win against Hilal was that same night,” Dida said. “The day after we forgot about it, started the countdown and began to focus on each game we had in the league. Every game has its own concentration and its own time.”

Mood in the camp

“It’s the Asia final, so of course motivation is going to be very high, and the concentration is going to be very high also – so we’ll be preparing well for the final. We just have to be 100 per cent focused for everything that can happen.”

Positive result

“We’re going to study Guangzhou so we know them as well as we can. They’re a very strong side. The match is 180 minutes, but still, every game we go into once we’re on the pitch, all we think about is to win. That’s our mentality, our motivation.”

Ribeiro and Lima on song

“For sure, they can be the difference. The Brazilians we have, have provided a big contribution until this point. They have made a huge difference. We hope that continues. But they have their own challenge and they can do their best.”

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