Athletes and technical analysts confirmed to “Emarat Al Youm” that with the exception of the question mark regarding the Golden Boy Award for the best promising player “resident or born in the country”, which was won by Al Bataeh player Sekou Baba, at the annual ceremony of the Professional League, the awards for the past football season 2023-2024 went to their rightful recipients by 80%, especially with regard to the Golden Ball Award for the best Emirati player, which was won by Al Wasl player Ali Saleh, as well as the Golden Ball Award for the best foreign player, which was won by Al Wasl player Nicolas Jimenez, as well as the Golden Glove Award for the best goalkeeper, which was won by Al Wasl goalkeeper Khalid Al Senani, and the Captain Award for the best coach, which was won by Al Wasl coach Milos.
They considered that Al Wasl player Siaka Sidibe was more deserving of the Golden Boy award for the best promising player (resident or born in the country).
In comparison between the players Sekou Baba and Siaka, Sekou played 21 matches in the league, 15 of which were as a starter, and the minutes he played in the league amounted to 1433 minutes, scoring five goals and making five assists, while Siaka played 26 matches, 22 of which were as a starter, scoring five goals and making three assists, and the minutes he played amounted to 1925 minutes in the league.
Former international player and technical analyst Abdulrahman Mohammed said that 80% of the Professional League awards went to those who deserved them, noting that there are 100 question marks over the Golden Boy award for the best promising player, resident or born in the country, which went to player Sekou Baba, considering that Al Wasl player Siaka Sidibe was the most deserving of this award.
He said: “Sikou Baba did not play with his team in the last matches, so how was he chosen, and on what criteria was he given the award? As for me, I do not agree with this choice, as Siaka is the best.”
Abdulrahman Mohammed pointed out that as for the award for the best promising Emirati player, which was competed for by: Al Ain player Mohammed Abbas, Shabab Al Ahli player Bader Nasser, and Ittihad Kalba player Sultan Adel, and went to the latter, he believed that Bader Nasser was more deserving of winning this award, as he played more matches during the season, despite the fact that Sultan Adel is a good player.
For his part, sports critic and technical analyst Khaled Obaid considered that although there is a question mark regarding the award for the best promising player (resident or born in the country) that was won by Al Bataeh player Sekou Baba, the rest of the season’s awards went to those who deserved them, considering that these awards will give their recipients great morale boosts before the start of the new season.
He added: “As for Sekou Baba, his participation with his team was limited, and his effectiveness was not at the required level compared to Al Wasl player Siaka, as well as Shabab Al Ahli player Guilherme Bala.”
In turn, former member of the Football Association Board of Directors and sports analyst Dr. Salim Al Shamsi stressed the importance of the criteria according to which these awards are obtained being specific and clear to everyone, whether the public or the media, pointing out that the association granted these awards based on criteria that were set, considering that Al Wasl Club deserved to win the lion’s share of the season’s awards, as the league champion always has the largest share of awards.
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