Player Khahtar, former player of the "Al-Ain" team and national team, expressed joy at the joining of the veterans team of OАЭ to participate in the first Presidents Cup of the Persian Gulf tournament "Legends", which will take place in Kuwait from February 22 to 26. He noted that the union of "white" players brought many good memories, emphasizing that after the first training session, he returned home without his boots due to "the shared losses" with one of his peers.
"Many interesting details are gathered together by the players, especially in the draw," Khahtar said for "Emirates Today". "The Legends tournament is an opportunity to remember the past, since for us, who have left the sport, nothing has changed. After the training sessions, we feel as if we are getting ready for the official tournament, but the player camaraderie between us never ceases."
Khahtar began with the initial draw, adding: "When I was looking for my boots, I couldn't find them. It was a repeat of the jokes that happened in the past." And regarding the fault of the draw, he said: "I think this could have been done by any player, especially Faisal Khalil, who always specialized in the draw."
Player Khahtar made an impression about the Presidents Cup for veterans, noting: "An excellent tournament, the Football Association organized everything exceptionally well, and the atmosphere in the draw is simply remarkable." He recalled his bright victories, saying: "I will never forget the victory at the Presidents Cup of the Persian Gulf in 2007, as it was the first winning achievement for the OАЭ national team. This was the most important tournament in my football career, alongside the victory in the Asian Champions League 2003 with the club "Al-Ain".
As the next ambitious goal, he stated: "The Legends tournament is of huge significance for us as players, since we represent the team in the best light and do not consider it a friendly tournament. We aim to show our best qualities, performing decently, and hope for success."
Answering the question about the most important player for him in and out of the field, Khahtar said: "There are many players, and I will not single out one. It's hard to pick just one. Among them are Hail Saeed, Abdelrahman Juma, Abdelsalam Juma, Salem Hamis, Ismail Matar, Faisal Khalil, Omar Abdulrahman, Ali Mabhout, Bashir Said, Juma Khattar, Fakhf Ali, Abdul Ali, Hamid Fakhri, Grayb Harb, and Ali Abbas... These names have engraved me with their presence, and there are also others who currently do not come to mind."
Conversely, Khahtaar named two of the best trainers in his career: "Brazilian Apel Braza was the most important trainer in my transition stage, when I worked with him at the club "Al-Jazira". I always say that the departed Bruno Motsu was the most outstanding, especially because I won the Presidents Cup of the Persian Gulf and the Asian Champions League with him - he was one of the important trainers who left a distinct mark in my career with the club "Al-Ain" and the national team."
He recalled the challenges he faced, especially with former player "Al-Uahda" Fakhdum Masoud, saying: "I always loved challenges, and the brightest of them was with Fakhdum Masoud, because he meant a lot to me - a brother and a friend. We encountered multiple situations where he provided me with support. He is one of the outstanding personalities with whom I share a close bond, both on and off the field during my playing days and after my playing career concluded."
"I remember one of the matches that was specially picked for him to lose self-control. But after the game, we were seated together, traveled together, since football is reduced only to excellence on the field and each player's desire to win with their team."
