Al-Khatib, Al-Ettifaq player: The pause period will show the team in its true form

Moroccan coach Jamal Al-Salami expressed his happiness with the confidence he received to work in the Saudi Professional League, by leading the Al-Fateh team, with his pride and striving to provide his best in this new experience in his coaching career.

Al-Salami said after signing the contract as coach of Al-Fateh until the end of the season, succeeding the Saudi Khaled Al-Atawi, that he will seek to exploit all possibilities to present the team in the best way and achieve the desired results.

He stressed that his first match with Al-Fateh, “against Al-Ahly on Friday,” will be against a strong and difficult team, which is the champion of the last two editions of the Asian Elite Championship, and then the beginning will be difficult in light of the presence of distinguished players in the team that we will face.

Al-Salami explained that they have an ambition to appear in an honorable manner with all the difficulties and challenges ahead, pointing out that his late arrival to lead the team cannot be an excuse for not preparing for what is coming in the appropriate way.

Al-Ahly club management renewed the contract of French player Valentin Atangana until 2029, in a move that reflects its desire to preserve the elements it is betting on in building the team’s future, and to enhance technical stability during the next stage, in light of the club’s aspirations to continue competing in local and continental championships.

The decision to renew with Atangana comes as an extension of the Al-Ahly administration’s direction towards ensuring the continuation of young players who possess promising technical potential, and providing the necessary stability for the team, ensuring that it maintains its balance and develops its performance during the coming seasons.

The French player represents one of the options in the midfield area, due to his physical and technical capabilities, and the ability to contribute in defensive and offensive roles, in addition to his young age, which gives him more room to develop and gain experience.

The Asian Football Confederation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced that Al Hilal player Crescencio Summerville was suspended for three matches and fined $2,000, following his expulsion due to violent behavior during the match against Qatar's Al-Gharafa in the AFC Elite Champions League, last September 15.

According to the decision, Summerville will miss Al-Hilal’s matches against Qatar’s Al-Sadd on October 13, Qatar’s Al-Shamal on October 27, and UAE’s Shabab Al-Ahly on November 3.

The committee also decided to suspend Al-Gharafa player Ismail bin Nasser for 3 matches and fine him $2,000, due to violent behavior in the same confrontation, causing him to miss the matches of Iranian Esteghlal on October 12, Al-Ahly of Saudi Arabia on October 26, and Al-Qadisiyah of Saudi Arabia on November 2.

The committee obligated the players to pay the fines within 30 days from the date of informing them of the decision, in accordance with the Asian disciplinary regulations.