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Riyadh: The Saudi Super Cup draw has resulted in a fierce “clasico,” bringing together Al-Nassr and Ittihad, while Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal will meet King’s Cup winners Al-Fayha in the second match.
The draw took place in the studios of SSC sports channel in the presence of Abdullah Abanmy, president of Al-Fayha club; Faisal Al-Ghashiyan, a member of the board directors of Al-Hilal; Khaled Al-Ghunaymaan, administrator of Al-Nassr; and Marwan Mahdi, administrator of Ittihad.
King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh will host the Saudi Super Cup final on Jan. 29, with venues and dates for the two semifinal matches to be decided at a later time.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation had earlier approved the adoption of a new system for the championship, with three matches instead of one, as it starts from the semifinal round.
Under the new system, the Saudi Super Cup brings together the King’s Cup champions and runner-up, and the professional league champions and runner-up.
Riyadh: Al-Hilal player Jang Hyun-soo on Sunday appeared in a video to reveal the latest development in his treatment for a benign tumor.
Speaking from King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, the South Korean footballer gave a special thanks for the support he had received from his club and board chairman, Fahad bin Nafel.
In an Instagram post, showing photos of him with his wife, the 31-year-old defender said: “I would like to thank you. Because of your help, my family and I are having unforgettable days in life. I’ll never forget what you did for me and my family.”
After completing his first chemotherapy session, he added: “Today I’m done with the first treatment. During these five hours, I was with a happy heart and a grateful heart.”
Hyun-soo’s diagnosis has stalled negotiations to renew his contract with Al-Hilal, which expired on June 30. He joined the club in the summer of 2019 from Tokyo and has since played in 146 games across all competitions, scoring six goals and making four assists.
During that time, the team has won the AFC Champions League (2019/2021), the Saudi Pro League three times, the King’s Cup twice, the Saudi Super Cup in 2021, and the Lusail Super Cup last year.
Cricket continues to capture the hearts and minds of people all over the world.
From the rolling hills of England to the bustling streets of the Indian subcontinent, cricket has become a beloved pastime for millions. In Saudi Arabia, cricket has been played for decades within the expat community and has attracted a passionate following, which in recent years has grown significantly.
The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation is currently conducting trials across the country to discover local talent and enhance the quality of the Saudi national cricket team.
In these trials two Saudi citizens, Abdullah Al-Bumujdad and Raza Mohammed Alfardan, have been fighting tooth and nail for a spot in the national team. These two young men have overcome enormous obstacles to pursue their dream of playing for their country.
Al-Bumujdad was born in Mumbai, India and played amateur cricket there for 17 years before permanently moving to Saudi Arabia. As a full-time Human Resources professional, his passion for the game endures; and with the increased support of cricket by the SACF, he believes there could be a chance for him to represent his country.
“There are not many Saudi citizens playing cricket as the sport is dominated by expats. I want to set an example for the upcoming generation of young Saudis and contribute towards growing the game” he said.
Having started off with gully cricket, Al-Bumujdad amplified his skills by advancing from a plastic ball, to a tape ball, and today professional hard ball cricket. The Eastern Province Cricket Association is the regional body under which he participates and trains.
Another Saudi citizen, who can be found playing under the same cricketing body, is 30-year-old Alfardan. With more than 350,000 followers on his social media platforms, Alfardan is a prominent promoter of Saudi cricket. He has been on a similar path to Al-Bumujdad’s, with his cricketing journey starting in Hyderabad, India.
“I have always had a passion for the game and that is reflected in the way I play. When I was younger, we would play cricket wherever and whenever it was possible to do so” he said.
Alfardan refers to himself as an “all-rounder” who continues to work on his craft every day. In 2009, he was selected as an Indian Premier League net bowler, an indication of the talent he possessed. Today, the dream to represent his country is an attainable reality.
Both individuals express great appreciation for the work being put in by SACF. Under the leadership of Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, Saudi cricket has taken off with various tournaments and other related events being held around the country. The federation has provided an umbrella for all regional cricketing bodies to come under and has formalized the sport in Saudi Arabia.
“There are tournaments held which bring in teams from all parts of Saudi. Talent is hunted through these tournaments with scouts being present with a watchful eye on who is performing,” Alfardan said.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has a strong cricket community that has existed for decades and supports local players. With bare minimum resources, the community manages to offer coaches, training nets, and dietitians for local cricketers.
“I am grateful for the support of the cricket community in Saudi Arabia. Despite the lack of resources, local players like myself have been able to practice and train with the help of this community. It is heartening to see how passionate people are about the sport, and how they come together to support one another. Their support gives us the motivation to keep working hard and to strive towards our goals” Al-Bumujdad said.
Despite that, Saudi cricket still has a significant way to go if it hopes to catch up with the bigger cricketing nations. The vast majority of cricket games being played in Saudi Arabia are on dirt outfields and cement pitches. Consequently, players who are used to playing on dirt and cement surfaces may struggle to adapt to the different conditions encountered on grassy fields and turf pitches at the international level, which is the case with several associate cricketing members.
In addition, associate cricketing members such as Saudi Arabia are likely to receive fewer funds under the new ICC revenue model, which could impact their ability to develop local cricket infrastructure. However, it is worth noting that Saudi Arabia has already invested heavily in other sports without relying on outside bodies for support. This suggests that the country has the potential to develop a competitive cricket team if it is willing to invest in the sport independently.
As Saudi Arabia continues to develop its cricket infrastructure, players like Al-Bumujdad and Alfardan will play a big role in helping lead the way.
They are the future of Saudi cricket, and they are determined to make their mark on it. With their talent, dedication, and hard work, these Saudi cricketers have already managed to have an impact on the sport within the Kingdom.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League has not only reshaped the sports landscape but also redefined transfer windows in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of football.
This groundbreaking signing, which took place at the end of last year, has made Saudi Arabia one of the most attractive destinations for players.
Here are four ways that the current influx of superstar players is having an impact on the sport globally.
Elevation of Saudi Pro League profile
Ronaldo’s departure from the English Premier League sent shockwaves through the footballing world, upending transfer dynamics.
His move has opened the door for other high-profile transfers to the Saudi Arabian league. Renowned stars including Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Marcelo Brozovic, and Jota have all confirmed they will be playing in the Kingdom, with Roberto Firmino recently joining their ranks.
Ronaldo’s transfer has had an impact beyond the pitch, as former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard has been appointed as the manager of Al-Ettifaq.
Ronaldo stated earlier this year that the Saudi Pro League can be among the world’s best in five years if more top stars sign up. This prediction is gradually turning into reality.
Sponsors embrace the SPL
The appeal of the Saudi Pro League extends beyond football players, captivating even global sporting firms. Notably, Puma is designing kit for Al-Hilal’s men’s and women’s football teams, starting from the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
Additionally, Al-Nassr has formed a partnership with Nike, making them their new clothing manufacturer and further amplifying the league’s global impact.
Surging attendances, world attention
The Saudi Pro League has witnessed a remarkable surge in viewership and global attention.
In the past year alone, attendances have skyrocketed by nearly 150 percent, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency, highlighting the growing popularity and widespread appeal of the league.
Global football events in the Kingdom
Jeddah has recently been confirmed as the host city for the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, taking place from Dec. 12 to 22. This historic event marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s sporting journey.
This comes on the back of February’s announcement that Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
RIYADH: More than 20 programs will be on offer at educational platform GameDevZone during Gamers8: The Land of Heroes, with the aim of providing opportunities that will enhance and expand Saudi Arabia’s gaming and esports sector.
The world’s biggest festival of its kind, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, kicked off on July 6 and will run for eight weeks at Boulevard Riyadh City.
The programs on offer at GameDevZone include Masterclasses, Java Programing with Minecraft, Game Design and Mechanics with Fortnite Creative & Unreal Engine, Metaverse, and Esports World Workshops.
The presenting partner is Nine66, which is building the games ecosystem in Saudi Arabia to support local and international developers. There are also 10 providers offering their expertise at GameDevZone: DigiPen, Unity, Gen.G, Digital Media Academy Silicon Valley, Robothink, MISK, Google, Veryality, and Gosu Academy.
Ahmed Albishri, deputy CEO at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “As the regulating body in charge of nurturing elite gaming athletes and developing Saudi Arabia’s gaming community and industry, our GameDevZone objectives are to increase knowledge, raise awareness, upskill, expose gamers to new resources, generate new ideas, and network.”
“These objectives are vital to progressing the gaming and esports ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, which is absolutely imperative,” he added. “Education helps all of us learn and grow and furthers the development of better, more talented people in every segment of the ecosystem. By doing so, we contribute to fulfilling the overall ambition of making Saudi Arabia a global hub for gaming and esports. Every step along that journey is important and this is why we consider GameDevZone such an integral part of Gamers8: The Land of Heroes.”
The target this summer is to provide more than 3,000 training hours to some 3,500 participants — a substantial rise on the 2,000-plus training hours given to over 1,000 participants last year.
More than 400 games are pinpointed to be developed this year compared to over 200 in 2022, while more than 50,000 visitors are anticipated this year compared to over 30,000 last year. A target to have females make up 30 percent of visitors has been set this summer.
Gamers8: The Land of Heroes has a prize pool of $45 million — triple that of Gamers8 last year. The festival showcases elite gaming titles alongside live concerts by global, regional and local artists, as well as numerous activities and family attractions.
The festival concludes with the Next World Forum, a gaming and esports event at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh in Kingdom Center on Aug. 30 and 31, that brings together sector leaders and experts from around the world.
RIYADH: The inaugural round of the Hill Climb Championship, which forms part of the Saudi Toyota Championship, will take place on July 14 and 15 in the Al-Baha region, the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation announced on Sunday.
The event, hosted by the SAMF with Abdul Latif Jameel Co., is being supported by the Ministry of Sports and the emirate of the Al-Baha province.
The venue, set in the picturesque Khaira Forest Heights area of Bani Hassan governorate in the south of the Kingdom, will see more than 50 competitors vying for the title.
The competition will be held over two consecutive days on a 2.8-kilometer course with approximately 15 turns from start to finish, ascending to a final point at an altitude of 340 meters, and promises to be a display of fortitude, determination and motoring prowess.
Prizes include a GR 86 MT car for the first-place winner and monetary rewards totaling SR50,000 ($13,328), shared among the top performers in each category.
Over the past few months, the SAMF has been preparing to maintain the high standards set by this year’s Saudi Toyota Championship 2023, one of the most significant events on the Kingdom’s motorsport calendar.