Abou-Treika was at the heart of everything Bani Yas did well on the night, scoring the opener in the first half after a sumptuous first touch in the build-up before laying on the second for Nawaf Mubarak in the closing stages.
It was the perfect ending to Abou-Treika’s hugely successful loan stint with the Abu Dhabi club with the 34-year-old now due to link up with the Egyptian national team at a training camp in his homeland before returning to his parent club Al Ahly. As a result, he will miss Bani Yas’ final game of the season against Al Wasl.
But as he bid a fond farewell to a capacity crowd in Al Shamkha, the veteran playmaker admitted to enjoying his time in the UAE so much that he’d be open to a return if the clubs could reach an agreement.
“It was my last match with Bani Yas and I am going back to Al Ahli after my loan has ended,” said Abou-Trika after the match. “I am pleased to leave after Bani Yas won the GCC title.
“I have spent an excellent time with the team and I have enjoyed much support from the fans and officials of the club and from my colleagues.
“I will be happy if the chance was given to me to come back again and play for them in the new season, but that is to be decided between Al Ahli and Bani Yas.”
Abou-Treika’s time at the club will be remembered for a hat-trick of spectacular goals including a debut strike against champions Al Ain.
Abou-Treika, capped 97 times by his country, endeared himself further to the Bani Yas fans with this Beckham-esque free-kick in the side’s 5-0 demolition of Dubai Club in the Pro League back in February.
And finally, there was this vital winner in the fifth minute of added time against Najran that booked Bani Yas’ place in the GCC Champions League final. A goal that evoked memories of Zinedina Zidane’s famous strike against Deportivo back in 2002.
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