Nam, Msakni and Xavi in line for top QFA award

DOHA: Al Duhail’s Nam Tae-hee, his captain Youssef Msakni and Al Sadd’s Spain and Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez have been short-listed for the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Best Player Award, it was revealed yesterday.

The winners will be announced at the end-of-season ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Center in Education City on May 17.

Msakni played a key role in Al Duhail’s triumph in this season’s QNB Stars League (QSL) with an unbeaten record. He played the captain’s role to perfection and finished as the second-best scorer in the tournament with 25 goals, one less than team-mate and Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi.

Together, they contributed 51 of Al Duhail’s tally of 86 goals, the most by any side. The nearest was Al Sadd’s 68 goals.

The Tunisian attacking midfielder was named the best player in four months (September, November, December and February) and that speaks volumes for his performance.

The technical and physical aspects released by STATS, the official statistics and figures provider for the QSL, revealed that Msakni had an outstanding season.

However, Msakni missed Al Duhail’s triumphant campaign in the Qatar Cup as he is out with a cruciate ligament injury. He was operated upon in the US and still needs rest. He will also miss the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Tae-Hee is a vital cog in the machine of this season’s QSL and Qatar Cup champions Al Duhail. The South Korean playmaker is among the best presently plying their trade in the country.

Nam, who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player last season, is among the core group of players Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi is counting on.

The midfielder also played a significant role in Al Duhail’s brilliant run in the AFC Champions League, where they were the only team with an all-win record in the group stage.

Tae-hee was the main man behind the goal-scoring spree of team-mates Youssef El Arabi and captain Msakni.

Last season’s Most Valuable Player award was a clear proof of his great skills, potential and talent. Xavi Hernandez is the greatest star to have descended on Qatar football in terms of credentials and achievements.

Xavi, a FIFA World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, is Al Sadd’s regular captain ever since he joined them in 2015 after winning the La Liga and Champions League with Barcelona that season.

He, thus, ended a 17-year career in the Catalan club’s first team, during which he won eight league titles and four Champions Leagues.

The midfield maestro led Al Sadd to a cup double last season when they won the Qatar Cup and Emir’s Cup. This time, his contributions were big as The Wolves ended up as runners-up in the QSL and reached the knockout stage of AFC Champions League.

Meanwhile, Bassam Al Rawi, Almoez Ali (both Al Duhail) and Salem Al Hajri (Al Sadd) are vying for the Best Under-23 Player Award, while Michael Laudrup (Al Rayyan), Jesualdo Ferreira (Al Sadd) and Djamel Belmadi (Al Duhail) are in contention for the Best Coach Award.