DUBAI // Faisal Khalil enjoys playing alongside his younger brother Ahmed at Al Ahli, but hopes the teenager's success ensures that time together is limited. Faisal, 26, is a mainstay in Ahli's attack - scoring more than 100 goals in his six years at the club. Ahmed, 18, joined him at Ahli two years ago, but due to international success their time together on the pitch has been sparse.
"I love playing alongside him and the same goes for him too," says Faisal. "I hope there will come a time when we will be playing together at Ahli. If it is not possible this year, I am sure we will be doing it sometime soon in the future. "Coming back after winning the Asian Youth Player of the Year award, he could not play much for the club. Sometimes he missed games due to injuries and at other times, he was with the national teams. But he's still very young and has a lot of good years ahead."
Ahmed was the star of last year's Asian Under 19 Championship, winning both the golden boot and the player of the tournament awards as the UAE won the title without losing a game. That success brought him the Asian Youth Player of the Year award and a three-week training trip with the English Premier League side Chelsea. The teenager was to join the London side in July, but has been busy with the UAE U20 side, who are training in Switzerland for September's Under 20 World Cup in Egypt.Faisal has been advising Ahmed to stay focused on the World Cup as it could lead to greater rewards.
"Winning the Asian youth player award got him a three-week training trip with Chelsea, but if he does well at the World Cup, he will have a lot of better things on offer from many other clubs," he said. "So he has to work hard and put his name at the top at the World Cup. I think everybody is waiting to see what Ahmed is going to do. "I speak to him every day and I keep telling him to keep working hard and even tire himself out. He has got this great opportunity and if he does well, there will be lots of good things ahead for him."
The U20 World Cup is the first of two international championships Ahmed will take part in this year. In December he will be part of the Ahli team who will be competing in the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Faisal added: "I feel really happy for him. I know he is very focused on the World Cup and wants to do well for the team in front of the global media and fans. I am confident he will be able to do that and help the team achieve success."
arizvi@thenational.ae
