SAMAR AL ANSARI 2008 Soccer Award

Samar Al Ansari Award 2008
for Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer at IKNS

At the beginning of 2006-07 school year, the school community was stunned and devastated by the passing of one of the most capable students IKNS has produced, both academically & on the sports field! Samar Al Ansari was tragically killed in a car accident on the 4th September 2006. She was to begin her tertiary education studying at University of York in England, the same university as her older sister Qadar, something Samar was really looking forward to.

It is a privilege but tinged with much sadness, I wish to present the Samar Al Ansari Award to the girl who has made an Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer during her time at IKNS on behalf of Samar’s Parents, Dr. Ahmed Anasri & Dr. Randah Hamadeh.

In my 1st 5 years as the Senior Girls (SG’s) Soccer Coach, there has been an Ansari in the team. To be honest Samar’s passing hurt, and we have all asked why?
Someone so young, so capable & her life beyond IKNS all in front of her.
Some parents have said to me life’s order is supposed to take the parents first, not their children.

On the soccer field, Samar was potentially one of the best players in the SG’s.
Samar, in the JG’s acquired the nickname “crazy legs” & it stuck.
When she ran her legs simply went everywhere. Anatomically, definitely not one of the great running styles. She was actually very fast off the mark, & one of the few SG’s who had ‘wheels’ (speed).

On the academic side, Samar acheived 42 out of a possible 45 for IB.
I am sure any of the IB students here tonight would be overjoyed to receive such marks in their IB exams this year.

One of the fondest memories I have of Samar Al Ansari is of her & IKNS Girls SG’s Team in Dubai watching a video at some rather late hour when they should have been asleep. Imagine 15 SG’s girls on 3 single beds & one asleep in the middle of them all watching the video. The Dubai soccer tournaments are a special part of the IKNS sporting calendar & the highlight for many of you. Samar was no exception & really enjoyed her two trips to Dubai. The recipient tonight is one of the students her tonight who was in the room that night.

How many of you have hugged the camel at Rashid School? U13 Boys may remember me asking you to stop be the camal at Rashid School in Dubai this year.

This is 2nd year of the Samar Al Ansari Award, the inaugural winner was Rania Mashouk.

The award goes to the student who personifies all the admirable characteristics I have highlighted about Samar Al Ansari & their Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer during their time at IKNS.

This girl has played soccer for IKNS at every level from Grade 6 to Seniors.

This person has been part of one of the most successful sports teams at IKNS ever.
3 BPSSL SG’s titles. 4 trips to Dubai - 1st school team in Dubai 2005 & 2 3rds placing in 2007 & 2008.

In 2005, she made her 1st trip to Dubai with SG’s as a budding striker & played herself into the ground & until her legs would move no more having given her all, unfortunately had to miss the final. This particular Dubai tournament, I still say this is the best performance by any sports team I have been associated with at IKNS in my time.
The 2005 team were the first school in a competition of 10 SG’s teams.
Her efforts were really appreciated by myself & Miss Mireille.
In 2006, saw her play with Samar in the SG’s who won the BPSSL title, developing a midfielder.
In 2007, now midfield was her position, developing a good understanding of what is required of a midfielder – trapping, looking & lots of passing, not to mention running. Her & another person her tonight formed the back bone of our midfield.
The SG’s won there 2nd title.
In 2008, now a Gr.12 student, defense was her position, very strong on defence, excellent anticipation, always offered encouragement to the SG’s as one of the vice captains. On one occasion at half time in a game, even offered some advice for the referee who needed some upskilling in the understanding of the off-side rule in soccer. The SG’s won the BPSSL title for the 3rd year in a row. She was a major contributing factor to the SG’s success over the last 3 years.

Samar AL Ansari was at her best defending on the right, tackling & running the ball back at the opposition. Attack is often the best form of defense, why not from fullback. “Crazy legs” would often have the subs standing next to me laughing, wondering how she could run so fast & still control the ball. This years recipient has the ability to anticipate what is going to happen in a game, & is often in the right place at the right time, stopping the oppositions attack & starting ours. This person has their own distinctive walk often expressed as the girls left after a soccer game. Boots over one shoulder leaving with a smile of contentedness, “job done sir”, happy talking to her team mates about the game, no big deal & just being part of the SG’s.

Reliability and committed is the key to this person. Always there for the Senior Girls. She is only 4 students to have a 100% attendance this year. This also happened in the 2006-07. She has fashioned a record that I feel will never be broken at IKNS in any sporting field. She has played 56 games of soccer for IKNS, attended 32 practices, a total of 88 days of soccer over 4 years. In PE terms, that means more than a year of soccer & only soccer for PE. Good idea some may say.
Just think about it, are you that committed and reliable to your sport or to school?
Some teams here tonight do not total 88 days of their chosen sport this year.

On the soccer field she has soccer goals with her head, shoulder, leg and foot, not to mention the odd important penalty. Her best goal was a header off a Zain corner against the U13 Boys in a practice game.

Academics, realizing academics are important. This person has enrolled to attend a University in England for next year.

The recipient is someone who only knows how to give 100% for the IKNS SG’s.
It will be a little strange not to have her on the field as she does have a really good understanding of how to play the game, what I as a coach would like the team to do & what her roll in it is.

A penalty shoot in Dubai for 3rd place this year some up my feelings about the recipient, a script I could not have written any better. “All good things come to those who wait!” Well 7 penalties later, no one would look at me as their coach, “. . . , up you go, your turn”, “Me!” Head down realising a job had to be down, visualised which side she would go. Bang the shot goes – hard, low & to the right, Al Ain’s goalie partially saves the goal but there is enough power in the shot to take the ball under the goalie & over the line to score the goal & secure 3rd place for the SG’s in Dubai this year. Chaos broke out, with her taking off on a very fast victory celebration of her own, before her very happy team mates could catch her up. Excited to say the least was an understatement. As I mentioned earlier, a script I could not have written any better. “All good things do come to those who wait!” Especially for the girls who contributed the most to our success in the penalty shoot out had tears in their eyes.

It gives me great pleasure to present the 2nd winner of the Samar Al Ansari Award for Outstanding Contribution to Girls Soccer at IKNS . . . Fatima Mahmood.

Mr. Mark Clark
Soccer Coach, IKNS