Throughout the Gulf Cup tournaments, the Saudi national team was distinguished by its presence, not at the level of titles or runner-ups and outstanding results, but also at the level of individual coronations, which witnessed the emergence of Saudi names who left their mark in the scorers’ race, and among those responsible for protecting the goal, as well as in the Best Player award.
With the Saudi team winning the 27th Gulf title in Jeddah, the “Green” stars added a new chapter to this record, after Firas Al-Braikan won the top scorer title, and Muhammad Al-Owais won the best goalkeeper award, while Hammam Al-Hammami was crowned the best player in the tournament, making the last edition one of the most attended editions of Saudi individual awards.
The Saudi presence on the list of Gulf Cup scorers began early, when Saeed Ghorab was crowned top scorer for the second edition of the tournament, after scoring 5 goals, making him one of the most prominent Saudi offensive faces at that stage, and placing his name among the first Saudi players to reach the top of the scorers in the history of the tournament.
Years later, it was the turn of one of the greatest strikers in the history of Saudi football, Majed Abdullah, who was crowned top scorer in Gulf 6, scoring 3 goals, in a version that witnessed the continued Saudi attacking presence through one of the most prominent scorers known in Gulf and Asian football.
In Gulf 12, the top scorer title returned to Saudi Arabia through Fouad Anwar, who scored 4 goals, adding a new individual achievement to his career, and confirming the continued Saudi presence in the scorers’ race despite the difference in generations and the change in the nature of the competition from one version to another.
The name of Fouad Anwar also remained linked to the memory of the Gulf championships, after he was one of the most prominent members of the Saudi national team in his generation, before the story of the Saudi scorer was renewed after many years with Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
The Saudi national team waited years until one of its players returned to the top scorers in the tournament, and that was in Gulf 26, when Abdullah Al-Hamdan was crowned top scorer with 3 goals.
This coronation brought the Saudi striker back to the forefront in one of the most important individual awards in the tournament, and confirms that Saudi football is still capable of producing strikers capable of competing for the top scorers.
In Gulf 27 in Jeddah, Firas Al-Braikan wrote the latest chapter of the Saudi presence on the list of scorers, after he was crowned top scorer in the tournament with 4 goals.
Thus, Al-Braikan became the fifth Saudi player to be crowned top scorer in the history of the Gulf Cup, after Saeed Ghorab, Majed Abdullah, Fouad Anwar and Abdullah Al-Hamdan, to carry the Saudi attacking banner in the latest edition of the tournament, and place his name among the list of Saudi scorers who have won the award over many decades.
If the Saudi strikers left their mark at the top of the scorers, the goalkeepers were no less present in the individual awards, as the Saudi national team knew more than one generation of goalkeepers who succeeded in obtaining the best goalkeeper award in the tournament.
It started with Ahmed Eid, who won the best goalkeeper award in the first and second rounds, becoming one of the first Saudi goalkeepers to record a prominent presence in the history of the tournament, before the legacy passed to one of the greatest Saudi football goalkeepers.
Muhammad Al-Deayea established himself as a distinguished goalkeeper in the history of the Gulf Cup, after he was crowned the best goalkeeper award in Gulf 14 and Gulf 15.
The double came to confirm his position among the most prominent goalkeepers in the region, as Al-Deayea was not just a prominent goalkeeper in Saudi football, but rather one of the names that was associated with the Saudi national team during a long era, and attended many major events.
Years later, the Saudi presence returned in the Best Goalkeeper Award through Fawaz Al-Qarni, who won the award in Gulf 24, before it was the turn of Muhammad Al-Owais in the last edition.
In Gulf 27, Mohammed Al Owais was a new symbol of Saudi excellence in goalkeeping, after he was crowned the best goalkeeper award, completing the series of Saudi goalkeepers who have won the award since the first edition of the tournament.
The Al Owais Award carries a special significance, as it came in the tournament that was held in Jeddah and witnessed the Saudi team being crowned with the title, completing the Saudi picture in the edition: a team title, a Saudi top scorer, the best Saudi goalkeeper, and the best Saudi player.
As for the Best Player Award in the Gulf Cup, it also carried prominent Saudi names, as four players succeeded in obtaining it throughout the history of the tournament.
Majed Al-Murshedi was the first of these on the recent list, when he was crowned the best player in the Gulf 19, so that the Saudi defender received an individual recognition confirming that the championship awards were not limited to strikers and scorers.
In Gulf 22, the award went to Nawaf Al-Abed, who was one of the most prominent Saudi names in that edition, adding an important individual achievement to his career with the national team.
Then it was the turn of Abdullah Atif, who was crowned the best player in the Gulf 24, after he presented distinguished levels that made him one of the most prominent players of the Saudi national team in the tournament, so that the Saudi midfielder continued the series of attendance in individual awards.
As for the most recent names, they came in Gulf 27, when Hammam Al-Hammami was crowned the best player, becoming the fourth Saudi player to hold this award, and adding his name to a list that includes Al-Morshedi, Al-Abed, and Atif.
This individual record provides a striking chronological picture of the development of the Saudi presence in the Gulf Cup. From Saeed Ghorab in the second edition, to Majed Abdullah in Khaleeji 6, then Fouad Anwar in Khaleeji 12, all the way to Abdullah Al-Hamdan in Khaleeji 26 and Firas Al-Braikan in Khaleeji 27, different generations of Saudi strikers succeeded in being top scorers.
In goalkeeping, the line extended from Ahmed Eid in the first two editions, passing through Muhammad Al-Deayea in Gulf 14 and 15, then Fawaz Al-Qarni in Gulf 24, all the way to Muhammad Al-Owais in Gulf 27.
As for the Best Player Award, it brought together names from different positions, such as Majid Al-Murshedi, Nawaf Al-Abed, Abdullah Atif, and Hammam Al-Hammami, in confirmation of the diversity of Saudi elements capable of making a difference.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports, congratulated the Saudi leadership on the occasion of crowning the Saudi team with the “Gulf 27” title, stressing that ambitions go beyond Gulf achievement towards achieving more successes in international forums, and that this coronation represents a first step in a long road.
The Minister of Sports said, in an interview with the Saudi Sports Channel after the coronation: “I extend my congratulations and blessings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince, and to Saudi Arabia on the occasion of winning this cup. I know that the ambition is great, and that we aspire to reach far in football at the level of international forums, and, God willing, this will be the first step to achieving the achievements that we all aspire to, whether we are officials or fans and interested in sports affairs.”
He added: “The generous support we receive from the Crown Prince deserves this achievement. I congratulate the players who presented a great championship, and they were sincere in their work and giving on the field and in training, and the focus was high and participation from everyone, whether the technical staff, the coach, or the Saudi Federation, as everyone worked as one team to achieve this achievement.”
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki referred to the work that took place during the last period to develop the national team system, saying: “Praise be to God, we have begun to see movement, and the coach has tried all the players who participated in the tournament, and I believe that the field is also open in the future. “Any player who wants to join the national team must work hard.”
Regarding the challenges ahead, he said: “The Asian Cup remains ahead of us, and it will be a great challenge, but my confidence in the players and everyone is great that we will continue with this giving and effort, and achieve what our honorable leadership and the Saudi fans aspire to.”
The Minister of Sports congratulated those responsible for the success of organizing the tournament, adding: “I thank my brother Sheikh Hamad in the Gulf Federation for their support, and my brother Yasser Al-Mashal, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, and Badr Al-Ruzaiza, President of the Football Association, for the efforts made to host the teams and reflect the image that befits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this tournament and international hosts. Praise be to God, the Kingdom has become a role model in the world, and this indicates the potential of the Kingdom and its youth, their effort and work.”
Prince Abdulaziz spoke of his joy at the coronation, saying: “The victory is beautiful, and we must enjoy and rejoice today, and God willing, this will be the first step to more achievements in the future.” I have full confidence that we are working day and night to achieve these achievements. Sport is difficult and not easy. It requires time and effort, and everyone competes. I know that the fans were thirsty, and I was thirsty too, but praise be to God, may God grant us success and achieve this achievement, and God willing, we will build on it in the future.”
Regarding his emotions during the tournament matches, he said: “The players deserve, the team deserves, and the fans deserve joy.” All this enthusiasm and tension was because the masses deserve to be happy, and Saudi Arabia deserves to be happy. With this support that we enjoy from the Crown Prince, and from all parties that cooperated with us, praise be to God, may God grant us success, and we promise them that what is coming is more beautiful.”
Regarding the pressures that preceded the coronation, he added: “The pressures pass on everyone, but the players have their challenges in the league and with their clubs, as well as the experiences they had before this tournament, and most of them participated in the World Cup, and I think they have become accustomed to this atmosphere, and they know that they have to give everything they have on the field to achieve achievement.”
The Minister of Sports concluded his speech by saying: “Sports are difficult and not easy, and in the end there is one champion. Praise be to God, may God grant us success and we become champions this year.” A person must work and strive, and every diligent person has a share, and praise be to God, may God grant us success today and do justice to us.”
