Former star footballer’s new coaching career
An Emirati footballer who lost the ability to walk after a car crash in 2018 has become the first disabled athlete to receive a coaching licence from the Asian Football Confederation.
Ahmed Al Akberi has been training deaf footballers in Abu Dhabi since February, and has now been officially recognised as a coach by the AFC.
The licence, issued by the Emirates Football Association in collaboration with the AFC, certifies the 24-year-old in several areas, including training children and first aid.
It is the first level of a fourstage qualification. Reaching level four would qualify Al Akberi as an international coach for all players and matches.
Al Akberi started playing football for Al Wahda club when he was six years old, eventually landing a spot on the first XI for the UAE national team.
His golden moment was a spectacular goal scored against Dubai’s Al Wasl club during the 2018 Arabian Gulf League, he said.
He proudly showed YouTube footage of the goal. Running midway up the pitch, he kept possession of the ball despite a powerful tackle from an opponent, and scored to extend his team’s lead to 3-1. The match ended with a 4-1 for win for Al Wahda.
“This was two months before the accident,” he said.
“It is as if I felt it would be my last shining moment; I did not even feel like celebrating.
“I just walked behind the goal and sat there to block photographers from taking my photo, but somehow they managed to catch me on video while sitting there.”
Late at night on October 18, 2018, Al Akberi was driving in the Al Mafraq area of Abu Dhabi when his vehicle spun out of control and rolled over.
It left him needing a wheelchair for life.
“I don’t remember what happened, but they told me the tyre exploded and the car flipped,” he said. “I spent six days in intensive care then I was flown to Germany for surgery and rehabilitation.”
Eight months later, Al Akberi returned to the UAE knowing that he could never play for his old team again.
“I continued to do therapy in Abu Dhabi, but then Covid-19 happened and I stopped everything.”
Convinced his career in sport was over, he applied for an administrative job at the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination.
His interviewer, however, saw Al Akberi’s potential and suggested he apply for another position.
“I told him, ‘Why don’t you work in your field and with something that you like?’” said Abdulla Al Humaidan, the organisation’s general secretary.
“At first he was hesitant, but I convinced him to give it a shot.
“We had a team of deaf footballers but they never had a proper coach so they weren’t very committed to training.”
The team were also used to managing themselves independently, and Mr Al Humaidan knew it might be difficult for them to take on a coach, “especially one with a different disability” to them.
Dishearteningly, only two players out of 25 showed up on the first day of training.
However, when they saw Al Akberi enter the stadium, “they immediately recognised him, and started taking selfies with him”.
“And during the second session, more players showed up and the same thing happened,” Mr Al Humaidan said.
Soon the new coach began attracting new players to join the team.
Most recently, Al Akberi led the team to the finals of the Dubai Cup for People of Determination.
They finished as runners up, losing to Dubai Club in the last round.
Plans are now under way to hold a summer camp for hearing-impaired footballers from across the country.
“There are only around eight teams in the UAE, so it would be good to hold it in Saudi Arabia because they have many teams there, so we can do it together,” Al Akberi said.
Mr Al Humaidan said the organisation has received more applicants for therapy thanks to Al Akberi.
“After Ahmed’s story came out, people were inspired by his determination,” he said.
Al Akberi said that upon arriving for work in the mornings “my mood improves”.
“I like being here. It is massive and you meet all kinds of people and children,” he said.
“And when you see other people with similar, or worse, problems then your problem, it feels lighter somehow.”
Al Akberi is also having therapy at the organisation.
“I found it quite convenient to be receiving treatment and working at the same place,” he said.
In an Instagram post from his playing days, Al Akberi is seen sleeping on a plane and hugging an enormous trophy.
“We won the Super Cup against Al Ain in 2018,” he said.
“Egypt hosted the match and as we were flying back I held on to the cup for a bit, then I felt asleep while hugging it so they took this shot of me.”
He said that being a player was “a completely different feeling and thrill” but he enjoyed the authoritative role of a coach.
“Now I get to give orders and boss the players around,” he said with a smile.
When you see other people with similar or worse problems than your problem, it feels lighter somehow
AHMED AL AKBERI Football coach