Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Arbil: The top scorer of AFC Cup 2012 and Iraq international Amjad Radhi is determined to bring the prestigious AFC Cup trophy to the Northern Iraq club Arbil after suffering a heart breaking 4-0 defeat at home to Kuwait SC in the final last year.
Radhi scored nine goals to emerge top scorer of the AFC Cup 2012 with his five goals coming in the knockout stages of the competition. Despite being favourites in the final held in Arbil’s Francouse Al Hareeri Stadium, the Iraqi host suffered a frustrating 4-0 defeat and the Baghdad native is determined to lift the trophy this time around.
“Every player dreams of being the top scorer in an AFC Cup,” he told fifa.com. “We had what it took to get to the final but it wasn’t to be. That award was amazing but I didn’t manage it on my own: the whole team contributed. I just hope we can get to the AFC Cup final this year and, more importantly, go on to win it.”
The Iraq giants Arbil, whom Radhi joined after beginning his career with Al Quwa Al Jawiya in the 2011, started this campaign in a promising note by winning both of their matches in Group B. They are tied with Oman’s surprised package Fanja who top the table with six points having superior goal difference over Arbil.
Radhi has already scored two goals in as many matches in this year’s AFC Cup and apart from dreaming about the continental glory, the 22-year old is eying even a bigger prize with his national team.
“I hope to be at the World Cup with my team and we’ve got a good chance of keeping our campaign alive,” he said indicating the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2014 where they still have a chance to qualify.
“Our next match is against Oman and, if we win that one, we’ll have taken a big step towards our ultimate goal.” Iraq are third in the Group B but with runaway leaders Japan being the favorite, three teams behind are separated on goal differences having accumulated same points.
Iraq have three matches remaining and wins in all the match could seal their place in the next year’s finals. The top two sides of the group qualify directly.