Alkass Digital
Youssef Msakni was named the best player of the season while Younes Ali earned the best coach honours as newly-crowned Amir Cup champions Al Arabi dominated the Qatar Football Association’s QFA Awards yesterday.
The QFA Awards ceremony recognising the top performers of the 2022-2023 season was held at the Qatar National Convention Centre, wrapping up Qatar’s hectic domestic football season. Al Duhail striker Michael Olunga, who scored 22 goals in the QNB Stars League (QSL), received the coveted Mansour Muftah Award for top scorer for second consecutive year, while rising Al Rayyan star Osama Al Tairy clinched the Best U23 Player Award. Al Arabi, who scooped top honours yesterday, ended their season by lifting the prestigious Amir Cup after thumping Al Sadd 3-0 in the final on Friday.
The Dream Team remained outstanding throughout the season, also finishing runners-up in the QSL behind Al Duhail.
Msakni, who scored 13 goals in the top flight, was rewarded for his consistent performance for Al Arabi ahead of Al Sadd playmaker Akram Afif and Olunga.
“It is a great honour for me to win this award but it wasn’t possible without the help of my teammates and I am thankful to them for their support,” the Tunisian star said after receiving the Best Player Award. After receiving the Best Coach Award, Al Arabi’s Younes said the accolade was not only his achievement but a result of team effort.
“I am picking this award on behalf on my team as I have not achieved this alone. My entire team deserves the credit for this award,” said Younes. “Al Duhail deserved the QSL title and we are proud to win the prestigious Amir Cup. I hope the next season will be better for Al Arabi. We will try to come back stronger,” he added.
Al Duhail’s Hernan Crespo and Al Wakrah’s Marquez Lopez were also shortlisted for Best Coach Award.Meanwhile, Olunga, who played key role in Al Duhail’s phenomenal season that also saw the Red Knights winning the Ooredoo Cup and Qatar Cup besides the Falcon Shield, said his aim was to keep shining for the club.
“I want to thank Omar Al Somah (Al Arabi) and Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah) to make it a tough competition [for top scorer award] for me. It helped me to help Al Duhail win three trophies. I also want to thank my coach Crespo for always believing in me to lead the team’s attack,” said the Kenyan striker, who also won the Mansour Muftah Award last year after scoring 24 goals. “I hope to bag a hat-trick of this award next year,” Olunga added.
QFA and Qatar Stars League President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani along with a number of guests including representatives from FIFA, Asian Football Confederation, club presidents and sports personalities attended the ceremony.