Youth president attacks the Ministry of Sports after Al-Ahly's five-goal victory
Following the heavy defeat suffered by Al-Shabab's first football team against Al-Ahli, Abdul Aziz Al-Malik, the club's president, made a major surprise by directly and explicitly criticizing the Ministry of Sports, revealing behind-the-scenes details and secrets that preceded his appointment as president of the club, in statements following the match that ended with a score of (5-2) in the twenty-second round of the Saudi Professional League.
The owner began his remarks in a sporting spirit, congratulating Al-Ahli Club and its fans on their resounding and well-deserved victory in the match held at Al-Awwal Park (SHG Arena) in Riyadh. He acknowledged that his team's mistakes were purely technical and led to the decisive result. However, his speech quickly shifted to revealing details about the relationship with the Ministry of Sports and the unfulfilled promises made.
Details of the tripartite agreement and the missing promises
The president of Al-Shabab explained that his acceptance of the club's presidency at this critical juncture was not arbitrary, but rather conditional upon a prior agreement with the Ministry of Sports. This agreement included three key points aimed at rescuing the club from its predicament. The owner bitterly noted that only one point had been fulfilled—the signing of local players—while the other two, which were far more crucial and impactful on the team's performance, had been ignored.
The owner confirmed that the second point concerned supporting the team with high-caliber foreign player signings, a request that was completely rejected by the ministry, despite everyone knowing that the strength of clubs in the Roshan League currently depends primarily on the quality of foreign professionals. The third point concerned a professional work mechanism that included submitting regular technical reports to the ministry before each match, explaining technical problems and shortcomings. However, these reports were met with rejection and continuous disregard, placing the administration in an unenviable position.
The context of the competition and the technical differences
The owner's statements come at a time when the Saudi league is undergoing historic transformations and a qualitative leap in international player transfers. The technical gap is widening significantly between clubs that have received full support and those suffering from limited resources and options. The Al-Shabab president pointed to a strange paradox: clubs languishing at the bottom of the table and battling relegation were able to change their coaches and sign foreign professionals during the winter transfer window to bolster their squads, while Al-Shabab – a cornerstone of Saudi football history – was unable to complete its transfers due to the lack of promised support.
The owner asked bitterly, "Are the promises still valid?" He emphasized that the current administration was fully aware of the team's technical needs before accepting the assignment and would not have agreed to the task without the guarantees they received. Observers believe that Al-Shabab's current situation reflects a genuine crisis that could jeopardize the team's future given the fierce competition in the league, where history alone is no longer enough to withstand the formidable strength of star-studded rival teams.
A final plea before it's too late
Abdulaziz Al-Malik concluded his impassioned remarks with an urgent appeal, expressing his hope that the request submitted today would be approved immediately, before the upcoming match. He emphasized that the goal is to rectify the situation, improve the team's image, and address its pressing technical needs during this period, ensuring that Al-Shabab maintains its established position and avoids slipping to a level unworthy of its illustrious history.
