RIYADH, 20 May 2006 — For the first time, a French woman TV journalist will cover Saudi Arabia’s participation in the World Cup finals to be held in Germany from June 9 to July 9.
“I am the first French woman ever to get permission from the General Presidency of Youth Welfare for covering a major Saudi soccer event,” Clarence Rodriguez of France Televisions ( France 2 & 3) told Arab News. She added that as part of the run-up to the finals, the Saudi team will leave for Innsbruck in Austria on Sunday to prepare themselves for an intensive training session from May 22 to 27.
Ranked 34th by FIFA, Saudi Arabia will be looking at the World Cup in Germany as a chance to redeem its reputation as an Asian soccer powerhouse. After an impressive performance at previous tournaments, they were thrashed 8-0 by Germany at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan and exited the first round without a point or goal in three other matches. “What happened in Korea and Japan will be avoided. The team will be very well prepared for Germany,” Saudi Soccer Federation President Prince Sultan ibn Fahd said. After securing qualification six months before the start of the tournament, Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon was fired and replaced with Marcos Paqueta, a Brazilian. Clarence , who reports for French TV (Channels II & III), said she has already done a curtain-raiser on the Saudi team from Riyadh. Her reportage on the finals will be telecast live on France’s most popular weekly sports program Stagi at 6pm (French time). Saudis can watch the program on their satellite TV at 7pm (local time) every Sunday during the June 9-July 9 period.Clarence, who has been in Riyadh since October last year, has already interviewed Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, president of the Saudi Football Federation, and his deputy Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal bin Fahd. “I am the first French female journalist to interview them for a sports program. If I can pave the way for a Saudi female journalist to interview the authorities in the field of sports, I shall be proud and happy,” she observed.
She said that from Innsbruck she will turn the spotlight on Saudis getting set for the incoming World Cup challenge in Germany. “It will be a human interest report showing Saudis in action.” Clarence also covered French President Jacques Chirac’s recent visit to the Kingdom and earlier of the French Foreign Minister’s visit to Riyadh.
Meanwhile, according to experts, the Saudi team, led by captain Sami Al-Jaber, has young, energetic and some seasoned players, including goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea, the world’s most capped international player. Young talented Yasser Al-Qahtani, the country’s most expensive player at $10 million, and Asian player of the Year Hamad Al-Montashari are also expected to rise to the occasion.
The Kingdom has scheduled friendlies with Belgium, Togo, the Czech Republic and Romania ahead of its opening World Cup match against Tunisia on June 14. Analysts point out that the Saudis need to prove that the 2002 World Cup series was just a flash in the pan and that they could be consistently good on the field.
