An informed source from within the Abha Club told Asharq Al-Awsat that the football team’s training witnessed a noticeable increase in morale among the players, a positive indication of the improvement in the general condition of the group under the leadership of Croatian coach Teo Perija, who was appointed as the new technical director, late last October.
According to the sources, the atmosphere that prevailed in the training session reflected a state of psychological satisfaction and positive interaction between the players, in addition to strong competition and seriousness in implementing the training, noting that this situation is considered one of the most prominent transformations that the group witnessed compared to the previous period, which was affected by the decline in results and the pressures of competition.
Pereja decided to give the players a rest on Sunday, after 4 consecutive days of training that began last Wednesday, in a move that may reflect the technical staff’s keenness to strike a balance between increasing physical readiness and maintaining the players’ mental and psychological recovery.
This improvement in the team's internal climate comes at a stage during which the Croatian coach seeks to restore the confidence of his players, and alleviate the psychological pressures associated with the absence of victories, while maintaining the spirit of competition and discipline within training.
Abha is preparing to face Al-Shabab on November 26, within the Saudi League competitions, amid aspirations for the positive atmosphere to be reflected in the performance of the team, which is searching for its first victory this season.
The Greek Georgios Donis, coach of the Saudi national team, gave the “Green” players a free day in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Saturday, after their victory over the South Korean national team, 3-2, on Friday, as part of their preparatory camp held during the international break in November.
Donis preferred to rest his players from training, and give them the opportunity to spend a free tour in Doha, and to return on Saturday evening to the mission’s residence, in preparation for completing the preparatory program for the second friendly confrontation against Uzbekistan.
The Saudi national team will resume training on Sunday evening, at six-thirty, at the Al-Ersal Stadium in Doha, with a training session closed to the media, during which the technical staff continues its preparations for the final confrontation in the camp.
“Al-Akhdar” will conclude its camp next Tuesday by meeting the Uzbekistan national team at “Khalifa Bin Hamad” Stadium, the stadium of Al-Sadd Club, in its second friendly experience during the international break.
The Greek Georgios Donis, the coach of the Saudi national team, excluded the player Mohamed Mahzri from the “Green” camp currently held in the Qatari capital, Doha, after he suffered an injury to the posterior thigh muscle, as a result of which his need for a treatment and rehabilitation program was confirmed.
The exclusion decision came after the player felt pain in the back muscle, as he underwent medical examinations that confirmed that he had been exposed to the injury, and it was decided that he would return to Riyadh, on Saturday, in order to begin his treatment and rehabilitation program with his club.
In the context of the preparations, Denis gave the Saudi national team players a break from training on Saturday, following their 3-2 victory over South Korea in the friendly confrontation that brought them together on Friday, and allowed them to spend a free tour in Doha, before returning in the evening to the camp’s residence.
“Al-Akhdar” will resume training on Sunday evening at six-thirty at the Ersal Stadium, in a session closed to the media, in preparation for facing Uzbekistan, next Tuesday, at Khalifa Bin Hamad Stadium, the stadium of Al-Sadd Club, at the end of its preparatory camp during the international break in November.
