Gulf Cup.. The return of “prestige” and then what?!

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In most cases, the pulse of the Saudi street was not directed towards optimism about winning the 27th Gulf Cup, and this success was unparalleled.

The most optimistic expected to reach the final rounds for reasons that the observer is aware of and there is no way to explain them.

A team with disappointing results in recent years, unstable in its technical and administrative staff, and no signs under the control of the foreign player, not to mention the media and social media, immersed in settling scores with the federation, with the clubs, and between each other and exchanging accusations..

This view changed relatively after the first match against Kuwait, and then it began to grow match after match until optimism reached its peak before the end.

How did this transformation happen?!

Of course, this success cannot be attributed to the new Football Association headed by A. Badr Al-Raziza, and it is also not possible to strip the previous union headed by A. Yasser Al-Mashal, whatever his relationship with him, is some of that and a lot of that, and those who attribute him to the new union realize that in their convictions, but they attribute him to the present out of healing for the past and settling scores with him.

The change in the technical and administrative staff of the team took place during the era of the previous federation and a few months before the end of its term. Accordingly, this team was chosen from elements that are the product of the Sunni groups that that federation worked on. On the other hand, the new federation has been supervising and following up on this team since it assumed its duties more than a month ago. Therefore, we must be fair in issuing judgments and assigning credit.

Personally, I have no relationship or knowledge of the distinguished professors Yasser Al-Mishal and Badr Al-Ruzaiza except through good remembrance and distant knowledge. The only time I met Yasser during the seven years he spent at the Union was five years ago in Jeddah on a passing occasion with a group of colleagues.

What happened was a number of facts that came together to make this victory.

Players searching for self-fulfillment and proving their existence.

An experienced Saudi football coach is interested in success in his first experience with national teams.

A previously successful, respectable administration that knows the mentality of the Saudi player and how to deal with him?!

A thirsty group supported by a long absence from achieving glory for Saudi football was able to overcome some of the obstacles that some tried to put in the way according to personal visions that were lurking around them in circles far from reality and what is required at this stage.

No matter how much some try to downplay the importance of the Gulf Tournament, with its historical legacy and competitive nature, it carries great importance, making winning it an official and popular demand. It represents special importance to us because the idea came from here and was born on the land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The success of the tournament in its 27th edition, administratively and organizationally, came despite the circumstances the region is going through, confirming the security we enjoy and the stability we are experiencing under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Highness the Trustworthy Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a rational government that understands how to deal with events and preserve the security of citizens and residents.

It succeeded technically for reasons I mentioned in the article, and at an appropriate time. Saudi football was in need of regaining its prestige and proving its existence after a long absence from the podiums.

We hope that the Gulf Cup will be the beginning of the return, as we have many important obligations ahead of us, the most important of which is the Asian Nations Cup in less than 3 months here in the Kingdom, and we must not be overly optimistic as much as we care about and support the team financially and morally, and that it will also be the beginning of correcting many concepts and dealing with the team, especially from the media side, which is still unable to keep up with these successes.