Abdulla Al Naqbi has lofty aims of breaking into the UAE squad this season and hopes a successful campaign with Al Dhafra will make that a reality.
The all-action midfielder enjoyed a fine 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season with the Western Knights, who ended the campaign in superb form to counteract a dismal opening in which they lost seven of their first 11 games.
They tasted defeat just three times in their next 15 matches, including eight wins, to finish a credible eighth.
Al Naqbi is desperate for Dhafra to pick up from where they left off, as he bids to join the likes of
“It’s very important that everyone has ambitions for the national team,” said the frizzy-haired 23-year-old, who would love a chance to break into the national side and help them become just the second UAE side to qualify for a World Cup – emulating the Italia ‘90 generation.
“I want to fight to be in the national team. I would like to get one chance to be there with them. I think I can fight with them to be in Russia 2018.”
Al Naqbi enjoyed his best season with the club from Abu Dhabi’s Western Region last year.
He played 21 AGL games and scored his first Dhafra goal. He has six UAE Under-23 caps to his name and featured in all four games at January’s AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar, where the Whites exited to Iraq in the quarter-finals.
And Al Naqbi feels he only needs one chance to impress senior boss Ali.
“I think I’d be able to make an impression on coach Ali and that would be the start of my international career,” he said. “I will fight this season to be in the team. If I get the chance I’m sure I can stay there for a long time. I have confidence in my ability.”
Uppermost in Al Naqbi’s thinking is performing well for his club, where he was happy enough to sign a long-term deal last season.
Stability has been prioritsed by Dhafra. Coach Mohammad Kwid has retained the same four foreign stars, including find of the season Omar Krbin who scored nine goals in 12 AGL games after arriving in January.
The Syria forward will line-up again with Senegal striker Makhete Diop, plus Morocco duo Adil Hermach and Issam El Adoua. Al Naqbi believed Dhafra have the right combination of quality and unity to be successful.
“I think we have a very good team and good players,” said Al Naqbi. “We have very good quality in the team but it is important we have very good teamwork. The important thing is teamwork.
“I have to push myself and try to help the team. Every time we say we have to fight for the league.
“It is difficult for us as there are a lot of big teams. But it’s a very good challenge for us with what we did at the end of the season, that we can fight for a very good place.”