JEDDAH, 23 May 2007 — The inevitable came: Al-Ahli football club and Serbian coach Nebusha Moskovitch have parted ways over money.
Ahli refused to bow to the demands of Nebusha for a salary raise and both parties mutually agreed to terminate Nebusha’s contract.
With the impending departure of Nebusha Ahli club is trying to lure German coach Theo Bucker from Wehda. Ahli had offered Bucker a contract of $ 400,000 while Wehda offered him $ 220,000.
The final decision would be announced in a few days. Under Nebusha Ahli became a team reborn winning two major domestic titles — Prince Faisal Cup and Crown Prince Cup.
Having given Ahli not only one but two championships Nebusha had asked for a raise in his salary from $350, 000 to $600,000.
He said in an earlier interview that Ahli had verbally agreed to raise his salary to double the amount if he wins a title for the team. After Nebusha made known his position of leaving if his demands were not granted Ahli took some time before deciding to release Nebusha.
Nebusha will not be without a new employer as there are offers from Saudi, UAE and Qatar clubs. But “I have yet to decide which offer I’d go to,” he said.
“I would to love to stay in Saudi Arabia because I wish to become the national team coach one day, but I still do not know what I would do.”
Meantime, there were mixed reactions from fans in the aftermath of the Nebusha affair. Abdul Aziz Bu Hajar said, “It is a great loss to lose a great coach like Nebusha who managed to turn the tables and bring Ahli back again to collecting trophies. I wonder why the Ahli club did not renew the contract with him because he deserves it. He was the one who discovered the new players in Ahli club after we were suffering with old players. He was the one who rediscovered Malek Muaz and put him in the right place. He was the one who discovered Ahli goalkeeper Yaser Al-Musaileem. Nebusha, whether we like it or not, was the one behind Ahli glory. If we kept him for another season we will win the King’s Cup.”
“I wish Ahli club management did not rush into making the decision not to renew his contract,” said Faisal Eshfaqa. He said that it is hard to replace a coach especially if he was as good as Nebusha. He added, “Ahli was used to Nebusha style and now the team must to adapt to the style of the new coach and we do not know if the new coach will succeed with Ahli. We know for sure that Nebusha succeeded so why change him.”
He said the team spent a lot more money in bringing players that were not as good as expected. He is asking why the club does not want to pay the right amount for a coach in the caliber of Nebusha. “Ahli will sure regret the decision not to renew his contract,” he added. Amer Ahmad, another Ahli fan, offered a different view.
He said that Ahli’s strength is not in the coach but in the players and the stability of the club.
He said, “Ahli has a very strong administration that will carry the team to trophies. Nebusha is lucky to land in a team as stable as Ahli club that provided him with all what he needs to succeed in his job. The problem is that the Ahli fans are emotional and react negatively when a good coach leaves thinking that the team will be finished. I bet that this is the start to something better coming in the future and Ahli club will again be the champion and win next year’s trophies.”
