Defensive rock Mohanad Salem has set himself ambitious targets of continued success with Al Ain and helping the UAE national team scale new heights.

Salem’s solid displays at the heart of the Boss rearguard were rewarded as he was named in the AGL Team of the Year and singled out by the supporters as Fan’s Player of the Year.

And the 30-year-old stopper said: “I feel really proud to be one of the best defenders in the league but it’s not about me doing it alone. 

“It was the whole team that pushed me to be better and better. To be nominated is really huge bec-ause I am a defender. Normally it is the attackers who win awards so to be nominated is amazing.”

As well as his exploits in the Garden City, Salem has emerged as a key player for Mahdi Ali’s national team.

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In particular, he enjoyed a fantastic run in the Asian Cup in Australia with his superb display in the quarter-final victory over Japan marking him out as one of the best defenders in the competition.

The Whites are now hoping to build on their progress and take steps towards Russia 2018, with one eye on the continental competition coming to the UAE the following year.

“One of the things I am focusing on is the World Cup with the national team and also for the Asian Cup,” added Salem. 

“These are our main goals and we are improving.”