Al-Wahda forms a committee to document history: Will the title of Dean be decided?
In a strategic move aimed at preserving its rich sporting heritage, the board of directors of Al-Wahda Saudi Club the formation of a specialized committee to document the club's history, record its championships, and compile its decades-long sporting archive. This step comes at a sensitive time for the Saudi sports scene, as there is a growing interest in documenting the Kingdom's sporting movement in a scientific and systematic manner.
Committee formation and its stated objectives
According to the official announcement, the club's management appointed Professor Mamdouh Abbas Lafou , which also includes a distinguished group of individuals interested in Al-Wahda's history and affairs: Sheikh Mohammed Ghazali Yamani, writer Mohammed Al-Fayez, Captain Kamal Yousef Shanfar, and Professor Talal Sarouji. This committee will be responsible for collecting documents, manuscripts, and press archives to create a comprehensive historical record reflecting the club's journey from its earliest beginnings.
Historical background: The struggle for precedence and the title of Dean
This step is of paramount importance, extending far beyond mere internal archiving. It brings to the forefront one of the most contentious issues in the history of Saudi football: the question of "founding priority" and the title of " Dean of Saudi Clubs ." Historically, Al-Ittihad Club (founded in 1927) is known as the Dean, but a broad current of historians and Al-Wahda Club supporters, relying on accounts and documents, suggests that the Makkah-based club's roots extend back to 1916 (formerly known as Al-Hizb or Al-Mukhtalat), thus making it—in their view—the oldest club in the Kingdom.
General context and documentation of Saudi sports
Al-Wahda's moves coincide with the massive project launched by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to document the history of Saudi football in cooperation with international bodies and experts from FIFA. Observers suggest that Al-Wahda's initiative may be a preemptive measure to prepare a comprehensive legal and historical file that will bolster the club's position in the official documentation project, ensuring the preservation of its historical rights and honorary titles.
Expected local impact
The work of this committee is expected to generate significant media and public interest in the coming period, especially if the committee succeeds in uncovering previously unpublished documents. This interest extends beyond mere prestige; it aims to bolster the commercial identity of the Makkah club as the oldest and most prestigious sporting entity, potentially enhancing its market value and investment appeal amidst the major transformations underway in Saudi sports as part of Vision 2030.
The most prominent question that the sports community is waiting for remains: Will the outputs of this committee be merely an addition to the sports library, or will they overturn the balance of Saudi football history and redraw the map of club establishment anew?
