By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Prince Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, Friday issued a general pardon for all suspended players, administrators and referees in all sports.
The reprieve comes on the occasion of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz’s safe return to the Kingdom.
Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad have greatly benefited from the decision since four of Shabab players have been suspended for receiving either three yellow cards each or due to a disciplinary committee’s decision. These are Ahmed Otaif, Sanad Sharaheeli and Nasser Al-Shamrani.
However, goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah was punished with a disciplinary committee decision.
On the other hand, Ittihad skipper Mohammed Noor received three yellow cards and a red card that resulted in his suspension for three matches.
His teammate, Hicham Abu Cherouane, received a third yellow card during his team’s recent encounter against Al-Hilal Thursday.
Ali Zubara of Najran is also a beneficiary of the pardon.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Hilal routs Ittihad 5-0 to increase lead
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Thiago Neves scored a hat trick while Christian Wilhelmsson netted a double as Al-Hilal routed Al-Ittihad 5-0 in Saudi Zain Professional League at Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium Thursday.
Both the sides launched attacks against each other from the start. But the absence of skipper Mohammed Noor along with the Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti from the lineup was too much for the Ittihad team to bear.
Ittihad was the first team to make an attempt on the rival’s goal in the fifth minute through Sultan Al-Numari, but Hilal keeper Mohammed Al-Deayea kept him at bay.
Two minutes later, Abdullah Al-Zouri sent a pass through Al-Ittihad defenders to Wilhelmsson, who direct it into the Ittihad goal without giving keeper Mabrouk Za’id time to block it.
Talal Al-Mish’al of Ittihad counter-attacked a minute later, but Deayea did well to push it over the bar. Ittihad was again unlucky to score a goal when Hicham Abu Cherouane’s shot in the 28th minute hit the right post of Deayea.
Hilal on the other hand kept on increasing its tally. Brazilian Neves doubled Hilal’s lead in the 37th minute by tapping on to a perfect cross from the dynamic Swedish midfielder Wilhelmsson. Ittihad keeper Zaid was certainly not himself as he would have saved it on any other night.
The second half saw Ittihad’s coach Gabriel Calderon make an adventurous change when he replaced defender Obaid Al-Shamrani with striker Luciano Leguizamon. Calderon paid the price in the 55th minute when Neves shot from outside the box to increase the lead.
Neves completed his hat trick three minutes later when Yasser Al-Qahtani dribbled past Ittihad players and sent a nice pass to Neves, who controlled the ball before putting it behind Za’id.
Saud Kariri of Ittihad hit a powerful kick from outside the area in the 76th minute but only found the bar. Hilal, however, was still able to find its fifth goal in the 83rd minute through Wilhelmsson.
Hilal coach Eric Gerets then replaced Wilhelmsson and Neves with Eisa Al-Muhiyyani and Omar Al-Ghamdi.
Al-Hilal is on top of the standings at the end of round 11 with 29 points. It is followed by Al-Shabab on 26 points with Al-Ittihad taking the third spot on 18 points, but with two matches in hand. Al-Wehdah is fourth (13 points), while Al-Fateh is fifth (also on 13 points – with a 4-goal difference), followed by Al-Ahli (12).
In another match, Al-Ahli shared two goals with Al-Fateh at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.
Rabea’a Al-Sufiyani put Al-Fateh in the lead eight minutes after the break. Mohammed Al-Sifri scored for Ahli in the 78th minute.
The match saw a rare situation when the referee, Yahiya Hazzazi, fell unconscious eight minutes before time. Although he gained consciousness soon after, he was replaced with the fourth official, Abdurrahman Al-Amri.
Elsewhere, Al-Ittifaq defeated its host Najran 3-1 at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium.
Anas Bin Yaseen scored from the spot for the guest team in the 12th minute before Abdurrahman Al-Qahtani equalized also from the spot in the 35th minute.
Yousuf Al-Salem increased the margin a minute after the break. In the 54th minute Yahiya Al-Shihri sealed the win for Al-Ittifaq.
With one match in hand, Al-Ittifaq is ninth with nine points, while Najran is tenth with seven points.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Al-Shabab shares lead
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Al-Shabab recorded an important 3-0 win over its host Al-Qadsiyyah in Round 11 of the Saudi Zain Professional League at Prince Saudi Bin Jalawi Sports City Wednesday.
Angolan striker, Amado Flavio put Al-Shabab in the lead in the 71st minute. Eight minutes later, Nasser Al-Shamrani increased the lead before the Angolan Flavio sealed the win in the 91st minute.
Both Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal have now 26 points each, but the former is second in the standing with a six-goal difference. However, the league leader has a tough match against title holder Al-Ittihad Thursday.
Al-Nasr, on the other hand, played to a goalless draw with host Al-Ra’id at King Abdullah Sports City in Buraidah.
Unlike Al-Nasr, Al-Ra’id, with six points in the bottom of the list, put up a good performance and threatened its opponent’s goal several times.
The five draws of Al-Nasr have raised a big question mark over the ability of the team. The team is now sixth in the standing with 11 points and two matches in hand.
In another match, Al-Wehdah made a big leap to the fourth place after winning over its host Al-Hazm 2-1 at Al-Hazm Club Stadium. Waleed Al-Jaizani scored in the 10th minute for the host. The host succeeded to end the first half with that result.
In the 74th minute, Moroccan striker of Al-Wehdah, Yousuf Kaddioui, scored the equalizer before Mohammed Al-Kaltham, defender of Al-Hazm, scored an own goal in the 83rd minute.
Al-Hazm is eighth with 11 points. Each team still has one match in hand.
JEDDAH – Al-Shabab recorded an important 3-0 win over its host Al-Qadsiyyah in Round 11 of the Saudi Zain Professional League at Prince Saudi Bin Jalawi Sports City Wednesday.
Angolan striker, Amado Flavio put Al-Shabab in the lead in the 71st minute. Eight minutes later, Nasser Al-Shamrani increased the lead before the Angolan Flavio sealed the win in the 91st minute.
Both Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal have now 26 points each, but the former is second in the standing with a six-goal difference. However, the league leader has a tough match against title holder Al-Ittihad Thursday.
Al-Nasr, on the other hand, played to a goalless draw with host Al-Ra’id at King Abdullah Sports City in Buraidah.
Unlike Al-Nasr, Al-Ra’id, with six points in the bottom of the list, put up a good performance and threatened its opponent’s goal several times.
The five draws of Al-Nasr have raised a big question mark over the ability of the team. The team is now sixth in the standing with 11 points and two matches in hand.
In another match, Al-Wehdah made a big leap to the fourth place after winning over its host Al-Hazm 2-1 at Al-Hazm Club Stadium. Waleed Al-Jaizani scored in the 10th minute for the host. The host succeeded to end the first half with that result.
In the 74th minute, Moroccan striker of Al-Wehdah, Yousuf Kaddioui, scored the equalizer before Mohammed Al-Kaltham, defender of Al-Hazm, scored an own goal in the 83rd minute.
Al-Hazm is eighth with 11 points. Each team still has one match in hand.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Children of martyrs, flood-hit to get admission into TVTC centers
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH - Sons and daughters of martyrs of the Jizan military action against infiltrators from Yemen and the Jeddah flood disaster can now gain immediate admission to all technical and vocational training centers, starting from the second academic term.
This was announced Tuesday by Dr. Ali Bin Nasser Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), who issued directives to all technical and communications colleges, vocational and industrial institutes and higher girls’ institutions.
“The decision comes in response to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ directives to exert all efforts to help the families of those who gave their lives in protecting the Kingdom from the infiltrators and those who died when floodwaters hit Jeddah,” Al-Ghufais said.
He added that the admission of these students will be through the TVTC centers directly through the training units.
According to Al-Ghufais, despite the end of the online registration period, the admission has been exceptionally opened.
He also expressed his condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and to the families of the deceased soldiers and the victims of the Jeddah floods.
JEDDAH - Sons and daughters of martyrs of the Jizan military action against infiltrators from Yemen and the Jeddah flood disaster can now gain immediate admission to all technical and vocational training centers, starting from the second academic term.
This was announced Tuesday by Dr. Ali Bin Nasser Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), who issued directives to all technical and communications colleges, vocational and industrial institutes and higher girls’ institutions.
“The decision comes in response to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ directives to exert all efforts to help the families of those who gave their lives in protecting the Kingdom from the infiltrators and those who died when floodwaters hit Jeddah,” Al-Ghufais said.
He added that the admission of these students will be through the TVTC centers directly through the training units.
According to Al-Ghufais, despite the end of the online registration period, the admission has been exceptionally opened.
He also expressed his condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and to the families of the deceased soldiers and the victims of the Jeddah floods.
Disabled volunteers offer a helping hand
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – After floods ravaged parts of Jeddah last month, many families were left without homes or, even worse, with missing or deceased family members. Many community volunteers of all ages, both genders and various nationalities are working together to attempt to overcome the effects of this catastrophe. And disabled children are also doing their part to assist those affected by the floods.
Disabled children from the Help Center are among the volunteers lending a helping hand at Al-Harithy Exhibition Center. Eight adolescent boys and girls accompanied by supervisors from the center on Monday were helping to sort out the large amount of supplies, food, blankets, and other donations that are being delivered by individuals, companies and factories in Jeddah.
Speaking about the efforts of the disabled children, Reem Gazzaz, Assistant Director, Office of Advancement and Development at the Help Center, said that volunteers are working hand in hand in a time of crisis to offer aid to those in need. “Our children were also there to help.
This is clear evidence that they are capable of being active and productive members of the community,” she said.
She added that the participation of the disabled children is a practical way to develop their social, self-reliance and communication skills.
“We are thankful for the work that they have done today, and we stand in admiration of the accomplishments of our children and their families,” she added.
She also added that altruistic volunteerism demonstrates the ability of people with special or intellectual disabilities to contribute in various societal situations, be they crisis management circumstances or habitual conditions in society.
The most important thing that these disabled children require is the chance to prove what they can do.
“Who said we are incapable? We are capable of working within our limits,” a volunteering boy said when asked whether he could really help.
Saudi teams figure in different groups
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – The four Saudi representatives to the 2010 AFC Champions League figure in different groups when the draws were held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
The 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, split into West and East zones, with all opponents playing each other at home and away.
Al-Ittihad, Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli qualified to the Asian championship following their fine performances in their 2008 local competitions.
The Asian draw put Al-Ahli in Group A along with Al-Gharafa of Qatar, Al-Jazira of UAE and the 1991 title holder Esteghlal of Iran.
The 2004 and 2005 winner and 2009 runner-up Al-Ittihad is in Group B with Zobahan of Iran, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and the play-off winner of the west.
Al-Shabab figures in Group C with 2003 title holder Al- Ain of the UAE, Sepahan of Iran and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.
Al-Hilal, 1992 and 2000 winner is in Group D along with the 1989 title holder Al-Sadd of Qatar, Al-Ahli of the UAE and Mes of Iran.
Group E of the eastern teams included Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of Korea, Melbourne Victory (AUS), Beijing Guoan (CHN) and Kawasaki Frontale (JPN).
Kashima Antlers (JPN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Persipura Jayapura (IDN) and Changchun Yatai (CHN) came in Group F.
Meanwhile, Group G included Henan Jianye (CHN), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Suwon Bluewings (KOR) and the east play-off winner.
The 1997, 1998 and 2009 winner Pohang Steelers of Korea is in Group H with Adelaide United (AUS), Shandong Luneng (CHN) and the winner of the Japanese Emperor’s Cup which will be determined on Jan 1.
The teams will play home and away matches in round 32 before the winners move to the 16-team knockout stage.
The AFC Champions League is the modern premier Asian club football competition organized annually by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament is contested among the top 30 clubs from top 10 Asian leagues joined with two more clubs qualified through the playoffs.
JEDDAH – The four Saudi representatives to the 2010 AFC Champions League figure in different groups when the draws were held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
The 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four, split into West and East zones, with all opponents playing each other at home and away.
Al-Ittihad, Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli qualified to the Asian championship following their fine performances in their 2008 local competitions.
The Asian draw put Al-Ahli in Group A along with Al-Gharafa of Qatar, Al-Jazira of UAE and the 1991 title holder Esteghlal of Iran.
The 2004 and 2005 winner and 2009 runner-up Al-Ittihad is in Group B with Zobahan of Iran, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and the play-off winner of the west.
Al-Shabab figures in Group C with 2003 title holder Al- Ain of the UAE, Sepahan of Iran and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.
Al-Hilal, 1992 and 2000 winner is in Group D along with the 1989 title holder Al-Sadd of Qatar, Al-Ahli of the UAE and Mes of Iran.
Group E of the eastern teams included Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of Korea, Melbourne Victory (AUS), Beijing Guoan (CHN) and Kawasaki Frontale (JPN).
Kashima Antlers (JPN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Persipura Jayapura (IDN) and Changchun Yatai (CHN) came in Group F.
Meanwhile, Group G included Henan Jianye (CHN), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Suwon Bluewings (KOR) and the east play-off winner.
The 1997, 1998 and 2009 winner Pohang Steelers of Korea is in Group H with Adelaide United (AUS), Shandong Luneng (CHN) and the winner of the Japanese Emperor’s Cup which will be determined on Jan 1.
The teams will play home and away matches in round 32 before the winners move to the 16-team knockout stage.
The AFC Champions League is the modern premier Asian club football competition organized annually by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament is contested among the top 30 clubs from top 10 Asian leagues joined with two more clubs qualified through the playoffs.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Al-Fateh and Abha enter quarterfinals
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Al-Fateh and Abha entered the quarterfinals of Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Cup competition after beating Al-Khaleej and Hitteen respectively Sunday.
Al-Fateh won over its host Al-Khaleej 3-2 in a Group B match while Abha defeated its host Hitteen 2-1 in Group E.
Three teams of Group E are out of the competition after Abha qualified to the quarterfinals. According to the regulations of the competition, only one team qualifies from E Group which consists of four teams. However, Dhamak defeated its guest Najran 4-1 in the same group.
Al-Hilal thrashed its guest Al-Watani 5-2 to make it 19 points while runner-up Al-Shabab defeated its guest Al-Shua’lah 1-0 to tally 16 points.
Al-Nasr, third in the group, defeated its host Al-Riyadh 2-1 to keep its hopes alive to qualify.
In Group B matches, Al-Ittifaq defeated Hejr 2-0. The winner is now second in the group with 11 points. With ten points, Al-Adalah jumped to the fourth place in the group after defeating Al-Qadisyyah 2-1.
In Group C matches, Al-Ahli leads with 16 points after defeating Al-Ansar 2-1. Al-Wehdah came second by defeating Ohud 4-3. The group runner-up has got 10 points so far with one match in hand.
Al-Ta’ee snatched the lead in group D after winning a difficult match against Al-Faisaly 1-0. Al-Ta’awon shared two goals with Al-Ra’id in the same group. With one match in hand, Al-Ta’awon is second with nine points.
JEDDAH – Al-Fateh and Abha entered the quarterfinals of Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Cup competition after beating Al-Khaleej and Hitteen respectively Sunday.
Al-Fateh won over its host Al-Khaleej 3-2 in a Group B match while Abha defeated its host Hitteen 2-1 in Group E.
Three teams of Group E are out of the competition after Abha qualified to the quarterfinals. According to the regulations of the competition, only one team qualifies from E Group which consists of four teams. However, Dhamak defeated its guest Najran 4-1 in the same group.
Al-Hilal thrashed its guest Al-Watani 5-2 to make it 19 points while runner-up Al-Shabab defeated its guest Al-Shua’lah 1-0 to tally 16 points.
Al-Nasr, third in the group, defeated its host Al-Riyadh 2-1 to keep its hopes alive to qualify.
In Group B matches, Al-Ittifaq defeated Hejr 2-0. The winner is now second in the group with 11 points. With ten points, Al-Adalah jumped to the fourth place in the group after defeating Al-Qadisyyah 2-1.
In Group C matches, Al-Ahli leads with 16 points after defeating Al-Ansar 2-1. Al-Wehdah came second by defeating Ohud 4-3. The group runner-up has got 10 points so far with one match in hand.
Al-Ta’ee snatched the lead in group D after winning a difficult match against Al-Faisaly 1-0. Al-Ta’awon shared two goals with Al-Ra’id in the same group. With one match in hand, Al-Ta’awon is second with nine points.
Ten-man Ittihad beats Ahli
By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – The ten-man Al-Ittihad defeated its city rival Al-Ahli 2-1 in a derby match of round 10 of the Saudi Zain Professional League at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium Saturday.
The Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti put Al-Ittihad in the lead with an early goal. Substitute Ali Al-Zubaidi increased the margin before Javier Toledo of Al-Ahli scored in the last second of the added time of the second half.
Al-Ittihad succeeded to overcome its thorny technical situation due to the absence of its three key players – skipper Mohammed Noor, Ridha Tukar and Saud Kariri. What worsened the situation were the injury to its goalkeeper Mabrouk Za’id, who was replaced with Tayseer Al-Nutaif, and the sending off of its forward Chermiti midway through the second half.
However, midfielder Manaf Abu Shugair made a perfect pass into the box to Chermiti who shot into the goal. Abu Shugair gave the same pass to Al-Zubaidi who was also in the same place and did the same thing in the 84th minute. The only goal of Al-Ahli came through a cross from Mansour Al-Harbi to Toledo who punched into the goal in 30 seconds before the end of the three-minute extratime.
With that win Al-Ittihad increased its points to 18 and is still third in the standing behind Al-Hilal (26) and Al-Shabab (23). However, Al-Ittihad has two matches in hand. Al-Ahli is fifth with 11 points and one match in hand.
At the Western Region, Al-Qadisyyah shared two goals with its rival Al-Ittifaq at Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium.
JEDDAH – The ten-man Al-Ittihad defeated its city rival Al-Ahli 2-1 in a derby match of round 10 of the Saudi Zain Professional League at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium Saturday.
The Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti put Al-Ittihad in the lead with an early goal. Substitute Ali Al-Zubaidi increased the margin before Javier Toledo of Al-Ahli scored in the last second of the added time of the second half.
Al-Ittihad succeeded to overcome its thorny technical situation due to the absence of its three key players – skipper Mohammed Noor, Ridha Tukar and Saud Kariri. What worsened the situation were the injury to its goalkeeper Mabrouk Za’id, who was replaced with Tayseer Al-Nutaif, and the sending off of its forward Chermiti midway through the second half.
However, midfielder Manaf Abu Shugair made a perfect pass into the box to Chermiti who shot into the goal. Abu Shugair gave the same pass to Al-Zubaidi who was also in the same place and did the same thing in the 84th minute. The only goal of Al-Ahli came through a cross from Mansour Al-Harbi to Toledo who punched into the goal in 30 seconds before the end of the three-minute extratime.
With that win Al-Ittihad increased its points to 18 and is still third in the standing behind Al-Hilal (26) and Al-Shabab (23). However, Al-Ittihad has two matches in hand. Al-Ahli is fifth with 11 points and one match in hand.
At the Western Region, Al-Qadisyyah shared two goals with its rival Al-Ittifaq at Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium.
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