Champions Al Ahli will be hoping for a clean sweep of the major prizes at the Arabian Gulf League end of season awards on Saturday night.

The Red Knights have representation in all the major categories after the league’s committee announced the shortlists on Wednesday night.

Unsurprisingly, head coach Cosmin Olaroiu is up for Manager of the Year, after collecting his third league championship in as many years following back-to-back wins wih Al Ain in 2012 and 2013.

He is up against Jose Peseiro who expertly guided Al Wahda to the runners-up spot and AFC Champions League qualification, and Paulo Bonamigo, whose impressive Sharjah side finished an excellent fourth in their first season since promotion.

The Dubai club also have two contenders in the Emirati Player of the Year category with Ismail Al Hamadi and Majed Hassan up against Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout.

The Foreign Player of the Year award features some of the league’s finest goalscorers with the division’s leading marksman Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain) facing stiff competition from Al Wahda’s prolific Seabstian Tagliabue and Al Ahli’s Grafite.

Saturday’s function, at the St Regis, Abu Dhabi Corniche, will start at 16:15 with the draw ceremony for the 2014-2015 editions of the Arabian Gulf League and Arabian Gulf Cup. The prize giving will start at 17:30.

THE CONTENDERS

Rookie of the year
Ahmed Rabeya – Al Jazira
Ali Salmeen – Al Wasl
Yousif Saeed – Sharjah

Goalkeeper of the year
Ali Khaseif – Al Jazira
Mohamed Yousif – Sharjah
Saif Yousif – Al Ahli

Coach of the year
Cosmin Olaroiu – Al Ahli
Jose Peseiro – Al Wahda
Paulo Bonamigo – Sharjah

Foreign player of the year
Asamoah Gyan – Al Ain
Grafite – Al Ahli
Sebastian Tagliabue – Al Wahda