By Jaber Al Ajmi — MUSCAT: April 30 - Oman football team captain Ali Al Habsi beat Liam Moore and Yann Kermorgant to win the Reading FC player of the season award (2016/2017) for the second consecutive season. The Omani ace has now joined the ranks of Steve Death, Robin Friday, Mick Gooding, Phil Parkinson in winning the award in successive years. “ This is the outcome of persistent hard work and commitment , I feel quite happy and proud”. Ali Al Habsi said, speaking to Oman Daily Observer. “Thanks for everyone who voted for me as a player of the season for a second time in row. It is a great competition between all players. Success is not in reaching the top, it is in staying there”.
“Because of the consistent effort I have been doing since the beginning of the season along with the inspirational leading of our new manager Jaap Stam who built trust in ourselves, me and my mates, I can say, I am very pleased”. The 35-year-old goalkeeper helped the Royals to qualify for the play-offs promotion, keeping 15 clean sheets in 45 games (all Ali started) and has made the most saves so far in the season( 162), only Barnsley’s Adam Davies made more than him in one season (163). Al Habsi continued “It is great to qualify for the play-offs promotion in a very tough competition, but the most important thing is that how we can deal with the two-leg games in which every game seems as a final. All the teams play the play-offs for the same goal which is English Premier League promotion, but the good thing we have is that we only lost twice at home, it is a physical advantage for us and we hope to utilise it.”
Recently, Al Mudhaibi club, the first club in Ali’s football journey, were promoted to Omantel Professional League (OPL) for the first time. Al Habsi expressed his happiness for the achievement of his hometown club, saying: ”I am happy and proud for the great achievement done by the collaborations of everyone in Al Mudhaibi.” “It is the great effort and loyalty of everyone especially the manager Anwer Al Habsi who embraced the younger generation’s enthusiasm and all loyal supporters who worked hard to make history in winning the First Division title and ensuring promotion to the OPL.”
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