JEDDAH, 29 December 2004 — Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal, deputy president of the Saudi Football Federation and president of the national team committee, stressed the Saudi national team should be high on the list of priorities.
Prince Nawaf was speaking at a press conference Monday in Riyadh after the committee meeting which discussed, among others, the Saudi team’s preparations for the World Cup qualification matches.
He added: “We are looking forward to finish all preparations before the next competition starts.”
Also discussed were the programs for friendly matches and team camps.
In explaining the directive Prince Nawaf said all players are deemed under the national team and no one shall rejoin his mother club after national team duties without authorization from the coach and the medical staff. The reason behind this decision is because many players were exhausted and out of shape by the time they are called back to the Saudi team having done both club and national team duties.
The national team have the option whether or not to release the players to their club teams. The Saudi national team coach Argentine Gabriel Calderon has appointed Naser Johar as his assistant.
