Nasr add Rabea to their ranks

DUBAI // Ismail Rabea is looking forward to an exciting duel with Abdullah Moosa for the No 1 goalkeeper's spot at Al Nasr after signing a five-year deal yesterday. Rabea became Nasr's eighth signing of the pre-season when he penned the contract with the Brigadiers. The 27-year-old was Al Shabab's No 1 goalkeeper last season and starred in their league triumph in 2008. At his new club, he will have to contend with Moosa, but he is looking forward to the competing with his teammate for thestarting berth.

"I know I was the No1 goalkeeper at Shabab," he said. "But they have many other promising young keepers. "Here we have Moosa. He is also very good goalkeeper. But I will work hard to prove myself and hopefully I will be able to play regularly." Saeed al Tayer, the vice-president of Nasr's managing committee, welcomed the new arrival and hoped the competition between Rabea and Moosa would help improve both of them.

"Both are brilliant goalkeepers," said al Tayer. "It is good to have both of them on the team. "For sure there is going to be strong competition between the two for the goalkeeper's position, and that can only be good for the team. "Both will be trying hard to win that spot and that will help them improve. The best among them will get to play." Nasr have been strengthening their squad in the pre-season after finishing sixth in the inaugural Pro League. They last won the league title in 1986 and Rabea hopes he can help the team break the drought.

"I know we have not won anything for a long time," he said. "But I will do my best and hopefully we can finally bring some trophies to the club." [e-mail]