Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Saudi Arabia legend Sami Al Jaber has urged footballers from Gulf countries to step up professionally to be at par with their European counterpart.
Addressing fellow professionals at the Professional Player Seminar organised in Dubai under the AFC KICK OFF programme, Al Jaber requested fellow professionals to keep on working hard for the achievement of their dreams.
“Footballers must be proud of their career as it’s a dream to play football as a professional,” the Al Hilal legend said addressing the Abu Dhabi-based professional footballers.
In his glittering two-decade career in Al Hilal, Al Jaber made more than 300 appearances for the Riyadh-based club. He also played record 163 times for the Saudi national team and had announced his retirement after Saudi Arabia failed to go beyond the Group Stages in the World Cup 2006 in Germany.
Al Jaber, a legendary footballer in the Gulf region, touched upon the differences of life-style of the Gulf region players from those in Europe.
“Some people perspective is that players in gulf countries lack ambition, but with the right drive, dedication, discipline and working hard we can change this perspective,” he stressed.
He also highlighted about the need to have worthier goals in their career. “Never ever make your ambitions on the grounds of financial gain, you will be remembered on the basis of your achievement than how much money you have made in your career as a footballer,” he added.
AFC KICK OFF, in association with the UAE Football Association, Pro League Committee and the Sports Councils of Dubai and Abu Dhabi recently organised two Professional Player Seminars which featured professional players from across the Emirates. Also involved in the seminar were FIFA, INTERPOL and FIFPro Asia and Oceania.
PHOTO: Arshad Khan