Yahya Al-Ghassani…a player living the dream and planning to tell his story at the World Summit

Shabab Al-Ahly and the national football team player, Yahya Al-Ghassani, said that after retiring from football, he aspires to be present at the global summit of sports, to tell his story and his professional experience alongside international stars, considering that telling the story of the Emirati player represents a national responsibility and an opportunity to pass on the experience to future generations.

Al-Ghassani, who is the only Emirati player who attended the sessions of the second day of the World Sports Summit, added that every player has a story and behind-the-scenes that do not appear inside the green rectangle, and after retirement I look forward to presenting my career in a way that touches the hearts of followers and reflects the personality of the Emirati player.

He added: “I am a professional player, and I always think that I will tell my story one day, because the player who represents his country must pass on his experience and introduce the rising generations to the challenges and aspirations he experiences, just as we learned from the experiences of international players who used to narrate them to us during their attendance at the global platforms hosted by Dubai or through the World Sports Summit currently being held.”

He explained: “The World Sports Summit represents an important international interface for Dubai and the Emirates, and for football players in particular, because benefiting from these big and international names is not through interacting with them in the green rectangle, but also through getting to know their way of thinking outside the green rectangle, specifically in difficult times with the world of football.”

He said: “The presence of this large number of international names is an investment for us as athletes and citizens. We learn from their experiences and benefit from their experiences, and the Dubai Sports Council has provided us with a valuable opportunity that must be invested in.”

He pointed out: “I was greatly influenced by the story of the famous former international player Roberto Baggio, and the major transformations that took place in his life. The impact was clear to everyone who listened to what happened to this Italian legend. I was even more affected by the fact that he is a fan of Italian football and the Milan club, and the narration that Baggio gave of his story confirms that football is not limited to tournaments, but rather includes challenges and difficult situations that shape the player’s character and determine his ability to continue or not.”