Crown Prince Cup

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

On behalf of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, awarding a car key to a winner of one of the races of the Crown Prince’s International Cup for Horse Endurance Race, which was organized by the Saudi Equestrian Federation at Al-Masara International Center in Taif. Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal Bin Fahd, Vice Chairman of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW), Prince Abdullah Bin Fahd Bin Abdullah, Deputy President of the Saudi Equestrian Federation (SEF), and Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Mu’amar, Governor of Taif. This race was held in connection with the safe return of the Crown Prince after treatment.

Inter Milan to take on Al-Hilal today

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

JEDDAH – Al-Hilal Club will play the Italian League leader Inter Milan at King Fahd International Stadium in a farewell match for the retiring Saudi International Nawaf Al-Timyat Saturday.

Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh Region, Prince Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW) and Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, Vice President of the GPYW will grace the occasion.

On Friday night, the full squad of Inter Milan arrived at the King Khaled International Airport and was received by Prince Nawaf Bin Mohammed, Head of the Farewell Match’s Organizing Committee.
“This is my first visit to Saudi Arabia and we look forward to the match,” Jose Mourinho, coach of the Italian team said upon his arrival.

Al-Timyat started his career in 1998. He has played 55 international matches with the national team. He has won awards for Asian Player of the Year, Arab Player of the Year and Saudi Player of the Year in the year 2000. He played for the Saudi national team in three World Cup Finals in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Shabab drops points

League runner-up Al-Shabab lost two important points after it shared two goals with Al-Ahli in the Saudi Zain Professional League at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium Friday.

Ahmed Otaif put Al-Shabab in the lead before Homoud Abbas equalized for Al-Ahli.
Shabab thus spoiled a chance to close in on league leader Al-Hilal which has 38 points. Shabab stays second with 34 points. Al-Ahli is fifth with 20 points.

With a 3-2 victory, title holder, Al-Ittihad collected three important points from Najran at Al-Okhdoud Club Stadium.
Sultan Al-Numari scored first for Ittihad in the 35th minute. Ten minutes after the break, Abdul Aziz Al-Sabiyani increased the margin for the guests. Four minutes later, Al-Ittihad former player Al-Hasan Al-Yami scored the first goal for Najran before his teammate Anas Bin Yaseen leveled the score from the spot in the 65th minute. Talal Al-Mish’al sealed the win for Al-Ittihad two minutes before the final whistle.

With two matches in hand, Ittihad is third in the standings with 26 points while Najran is last with seven points.

At King Abdul Aziz Sports City Stadium, ten-man Al-Wehdah defeated its host Al-Qadisyyah 2-1.
Al-Hazm shared two goals with its host Al-Ra’id.

The host scored first through Abdul Majeed Al-Ruwaily in the 73rd minute before Waleed Al-Jaizani leveled the score from the spot in the 86th minute. Hazm is now in the eighth place with 16 points while Al-Ra’id is 11th with seven points.

In the Eastern Province, Al-Ittifaq defeated its host Al-Fateh 3-0 at Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Sport City Stadium.

Hamza Idrees hangs up his boots

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

JEDDAH – Saudi international footballer Hamza Idrees hung up his boots Wednesday at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in a friendly match against Juventus which was graced by Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal Bin Fahd, Vice Chairman, General President of Youth Welfare (GPYW).

The match ended 2-2 and witnessed a below-par performance by both teams. All the goals came in the first half. Some of ex-players of Al-Ittihad also took part in their friend’s last match. Idrees was known for crucial goals.

His fans call him “The Thunder” for his great goals.
“I am very proud of you. Your support has been the real fuel for me as a player,” Idrees, told the fans, who came five hours before the match.

During the break, memorial shields and gifts were offered to Idrees. Prince Nawaf offered Idrees a gift on behalf of Prince Sultan Bin Fahd, President of the GPYW. He also gave Idrees a personal gift. The teammates of the retired player also presented him with the key of a luxury car. Idrees presented his jersey (No. 9) to team’s new striker Naif Hazzazi.

In the 55th minute, Idrees left the field to end his 17 years of his career. He has represented the Saudi national team in more than 70 matches and has scored 30 goals.

Idrees started playing football in his neighborhood in Madina when he was only 11. He played for a local team as goalkeeper.

Idrees first joined his first team Ohud for SR5,000 when he was 14 years old. He represented Ohud at the age of 16. Five years later, he moved to Al-Ittihad on a SR5-million deal.

On Saturday, Al-Hilal will meet Inter Milan in Riyadh on the ocassion of the retirement of another Saudi international Nawaf Al-Timiyat.

TVTC workers’ help to flood-hit appreciated

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, has sent a letter of appreciation to Dr. Ali Bin Nasser Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), for the efforts the corporation’s Jeddah centers have made in the renovation of flood-damaged houses.

Some 350 TVTC workers are working on a free face-lift program to help flood-hit residents repair their homes.

Dr. Al-Ghufais expressed his gratitude to Prince Khaled for his gesture and affirmed that the institution would continue its efforts until all damaged houses are rebuilt.
“Since the disaster first occurred, we have been keen to lend a hand to the distressed people,” Al-Ghufais said.

He added that TVTC workers have completely repaired 244 residential units so far.
“Our home maintenance program is being carried out by TVTC experts in all fields, such as carpentry, refrigeration, welding, electricity and painting. We have also made all the required raw material available for workers to ensure continuous work and better service,” he said.

He added that an emergency center has been located near Abraq Al-Reghama, east of the Haramain Road, to receive requests from the owners of damaged houses.

According to Al-Ghufais, the center receives house maintenance applications day and night seven days a week.

Al-Shabab, Al-Khaleej and Al-Ansar make quarters

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

JEDDAH – Al-Shabab, Al-Khaleej, Al-Ansar and Al-Ta’awon qualified Saturday for the quarterfinals of the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Cup after defeating Al-Hilal, Hejr, Al-Wehdah and Al-Faisali, respectively.

In Group A, title holder Shabab beat Al-Hilal 2-0 to finish at the top of Group A with 22 points. Hilal had earlier qualified after securing 20 points.

Faisal Al-Sultan put Shabab in the lead in the sixth minute and then Abdul Aziz Al-Yousuf sealed the win in the 67th minute.

In the same group, Shua’lah beat its rival Al-Nasr 3-0 at Al-Shua’lah Club Stadium.

At Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium, Al-Khaleej downed its Group B host Hejr 2-0 to move second in the group thereby securing a passage to the next round with a one-goal difference over Al-Ittifaq. Both teams had 17 points.

Al-Fateh sits on top of the group with 21 points. It beat Al-Adalah 3-1.
Husain Al-Turki scored for Khaleej in the fourth minute before Mahmoud Al-Sa’igh sealed the win 15 minutes later.

In the same group, Al-Ittifaq defeated Al-Qadasiya 2-0. The first goal came through Saleh Basheer before Hamad Al-Hamad sealed the win from the spot.

In Group C, Al-Ansar beat Al-Wehdah 1-0 to qualify as the second team from the group with a two-goal difference over Al-Ta’ee (second in group D).

The two second-placed teams have 13 points each.

In the same group, Al-Ittihad defeated its host Ohud 2-0.

In group D, Al-Ta’awon succeeded in advancing to the quarterfinals after defeating Al-Faisal 3-1 at Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Sports City in Al-Majma’a.

In a group E encounter, Abha shared the spoils 1-1 with its host Najran at the Al-Okhdoud Club Stadium. With that draw, Abha qualified for the quarterfinals with 12 points. The rules of the competition indicate that only one team should qualify from this group.
In the same group, Dhamak and Hitteen played a goalless draw at Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.

At Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Musa’ad Bin Jalawi Stadium in Hail, Al-Ta’ee defeated the visiting team Al-Hazm 3-1. However, both group D teams left the competition.

At Prince Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, host Riyadh defeated Al-Watani 2-1. These two also left the competition.

The teams which have qualified for the quarterfinals are: Group A: Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal; Group B: Al-Fateh and Al-Khaleej; Group C: Al-Ahli and Al-Ansar; Group D: Al-Ta’awon; Group E: Abha.

Ahli signs Farias as coach

By Mohammed Al-Kinani

JEDDAH – Al-Ahli Club has signed an 18-month contract with Sergio Ricardo de Pavia Farias who left the Asian champion Pohang Steelers to take up the post.

Al-Ahli is fourth in the Zain Saudi Professional League with 19 points. The 43-year-old new coach is expected to help Ahli’s title hopes alive, besides preparing it for the Asian Championship.

Farias had led Pohang to the Asian Champions League title in November after defeating Al-Ittihad in the final. He then took the club to the third place at the FIFA Club World Cup that was held in Abu Dhabi recently.

According to the Asian Football Confederation website, Farias put pen to paper in Jeddah Friday and will take control of the team in January.

The Brazilian will be tasked with securing success for Ahli at the 2010 Asian Champions League where it is grouped with Qatar’s Al-Gharafa, UAE’s Al-Jazira and Iranian champion Esteghlal.

Ahli also announced signing another contract with Tunisian defender Salahuddin Ghazal.

Coming from the Swedish BSC Young Boys, the 29-year-old Ghazal is known for his physical strength and high jump.

Ahli administration added that it will soon finalize a contract with a new playmaker who will replace the Argentinian midfielder Sebastian.