Majed Al-Fahmy, the official spokesman for Al-Ahly Club, confirmed that the club’s management is looking at the next stage with a different mentality, based on moving beyond the past and focusing on building a more stable future, stressing the club’s need for support during the coming stages.
Regarding the commercial aspect and partnership contracts, Al-Fahmi explained in his speech to Asharq Al-Awsat that the marketing department is working to expand the circle of partnerships and multiply them, stressing that Al-Ahly Club represents an attractive destination for companies and brands, due to its wide audience and great interaction with its partners.
Al-Fahmi pointed out that the club is currently linked to about 15 partnership contracts, in addition to working on launching an online store, considering that the commercial activity witnessed by the club represents an important step in developing the commercial sector and enhancing its resources.
He also praised the ongoing work on the season tickets file, stressing that the public demand and admiration for their offer and prices reflect the great effort made by the club’s commercial sector.
Regarding the period during which coach Matias led Al-Ahly, as well as talking about sports director Rui Pedro, the official spokesman confirmed that Matias made an important history with the club and achieved great successes, but the current stage requires focusing on the future and not being preoccupied with the past.
He spoke about coach Mario Pusic, who began his job with the team about ten days ago, wishing him success in the next stage, and stressing the importance of the players and fans coming together to support the new technical staff.
Regarding the public criticism and censure towards the work of Professor Majid Al-Fahmi, and the pressure and criticism that accompanies that, the official spokesman reduced the description of the situation as tension, considering that what is happening is criticism and censure stemming from the fans’ love for their club.
He said that when Al-Ahly fans get angry, their anger is for the sake of the team and the club, stressing that the fans cannot be blamed for that, especially in light of the difficult period that the club went through.
He concluded his speech by emphasizing that Al-Ahly went through a stage full of tests and difficult circumstances, but it proved its ability to be patient and overcome crises, while looking forward to a new stage in which public support and administrative and commercial work would be essential factors in restoring stability and achieving ambitions.
The draw for the round of 16 of the King's Cup prevented the major teams from clashing with each other at this stage, which indicates football excitement in the final stages.
The lottery was drawn openly without specific levels, as happened in the first round (round of 32), in which two levels were determined between the Saudi Professional League teams and the first-class teams.
The defending champion, Al-Hilal, will face its counterpart, Al-Hazm, at its home stadium in the capital, Riyadh, while Al-Nasr will have a date with Al-Khuloud in Al-Awal Park, and Al-Jabalain will receive its counterpart, Al-Ittihad, in the city of Hail, while Al-Ahly will face a strong confrontation against Al-Ula.
Al-Taawoun hosts its counterpart Al-Wahda in the city of Buraidah, and Al-Riyadh faces its counterpart Al-Fayhaa, while Al-Oruba receives its guest, Al-Akhdood, in a confrontation that carries a special character in the first place.
The King's Cup championship confirmed, through the results of the 32nd round, that it is a competition that does not recognize technical differences or big names, and that the clubs' path to advanced roles is not measured solely by their position in the Saudi Professional League or the size of their history and championships.
With the end of the Round of 32 competitions, the features of the “Surprise Championship” began to appear clearly, after the competitions witnessed the exit of a number of Saudi Professional League clubs against lower-ranked clubs.
The round of 32 matches witnessed remarkable surprises, after Al-Wahda, Al-Orouba, Al-Akhdood, Al-Ula and Al-Jabalin clubs succeeded in eliminating competitors from the Saudi Professional League clubs.
Al-Wahda overthrew Al-Shabab, and Al-Orouba defeated Abha, while Al-Akhdood achieved a surprise against Al-Khaleej, and Al-Ula succeeded in eliminating Al-Fateh, while Al-Jabalin continued its surprises by knocking out Al-Ettifaq, one of the clubs with a history in the King’s Cup tournament. The value of the surprise increases when it comes to Al-Shabab and Al-Ettifaq, as they are not just two teams from the Premier League, but rather clubs that have previously won the King’s Cup, which makes their early exit a prominent feature in this season’s edition.
One of the most prominent reasons that could explain the early exit of some Premier League clubs is the difference in priorities between the tournaments.
The season is long, and the Saudi Professional League needs stability, regularity, and scoring points, which prompts some coaches to deal with cup matches in a different way, especially when the match is between a team from the Premier League and other first-class teams.
This may appear by giving some key players a rest period, and involving less frequent players, which is a decision that may seem logical in terms of managing physical loads, but in return it carries a great risk. Because cup matches do not give the team a chance to compensate, and losing means leaving the tournament directly.
For years, the King's Cup tournament has been an open space for surprises, especially when lower-level clubs face teams with greater technical and financial capabilities.
This is why cup matches remain different from league matches; Because it gives the less fortunate team one chance to prove itself, while putting the favored team under double pressure.
Coaches alone cannot be held responsible for early exit, as season management has become more complex with the large number of local, continental and international matches and commitments.
But what happens in the round of 32 proves that the King's Cup still maintains its own identity as a tournament of surprises.
The teams “Al-Wahda, Al-Orouba, Al-Akhdood, Al-Ula and Al-Jabalin” provided a clear example that the differences between the clubs on paper do not necessarily mean the differences on the field.
