UAE football team’s Road to Russia: Stars of the future could make difference

Spotted young, the UAE football team's talent can bloom with exposure and time, writes John McAuley.

Ahmed Barman, left, is a defensive midfielder at Al Ain. Getty Images

Ahmed Barman

The Al Ain defensive midfielder, 19, was hot property before choosing to join the Garden City club and he appears set to justify the clamour.

Protects the back line, but is technically proficient and has a superb engine. Was thrust into the Asian Champions League earlier this year and adapted brilliantly.

Ahmed Rabea

Broke into Al Jazira’s first team last season, scored six goals and was named the Arabian Gulf League’s young player of the year. He can play wide or up front, has pace to burn and an eye for goal. At just 18, he has a composure that belies his inexperience.

Majed Hassan

Commanding in the centre of the pitch, he was integral to Al Ahli’s Arabian Gulf League title win last season, benefiting hugely from playing alongside Hugo Viana.

Tenacious in the tackle and technically sound, he can be the complete, box-to-box midfielder. At age 21, he was voted by UAE football fans as the best player of 2013/14.

Fahad Hadeed

A diminutive forward who can be deployed on the flanks or up top. Even at 20, he has developed into one of Al Wasl’s most prominent players, scoring crucial goals. Has a sweet left foot, which contributed to five goals in his first eight league matches last season, and carries the hopes of his struggling club.

Khalfan Mubarak

Labelled a genius last year by Quique Sanchez Flores, then his manager at Al Ahli, the fledgling playmaker impressed in a few cameo performances in the Etisalat Cup.

Moved last summer to Al Jazira. He is quick and supremely skilful, and has been compared in style to Omar Abdulrahman. At 18 years old, he has a big future.

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