MADRID: Al-Ittihad club President Dr. Khalid Marzouqi said the club is to usher in the upcoming season with major developments including the establishment of a youth soccer academy, enchancement of the club museum and media center and the possible opening of its doors to women fans.
The Ittihad chief was speaking on the sidelines of the Peace Cup 2009 match recently here between Ittihad and the world-renowned Spanish club Real Madrid, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Marzouqui told Arab News these moves aimed at improving the club will be implemented this month, as he promised the players during his trip here that the past is history and starting August all their monthly allowances would be delivered on time.
“I’ve been a player and I know how it feels. It is their basic right and this is my first priority, otherwise if I could not provide them with this, there is no need for me to go an as a president. I’ll do it even if it would cost me my job,” he said in an exclusive interview with Arab News.
Dr. Marzouqi said within the next two weeks coach Gabriel Calderon will name the two remaining foreign players that include an Argentinean to join Ittihad in the upcoming season. Until the deal is done, the names of the players are to be held in abeyance to prevent contractual problems that used to occur in the past.
Chief among Ittihad club’s priorities is the youth soccer academy, which it hopes to open in November. Dr. Marzouqi said the school, which will have subjects offered in regular curriculum, is tapping experts who will provide junior athletes with solid backgrounds on sports in addition to religion, culture, health and nutrition. “It is true that we are starting this a bit late. However, what I care about is that we start it the right way,” he said.
Dr. Hatim Al-Ghamdi, member of the club board of directors who specialized in sports psychology, is to be in charge of this program which, hopefully, will become a model within two years.
Marzouqi said the club is to invest at improving its museum as well as the media center, adding he welcomes ideas that would enhance anything in the club and likewise requests those who have been members to support the club by contributing pictures or souvenirs for the benefit of future generations.
“The club should be able to support itself, but unfortunately we have less than 1,000 members. I was shocked when I knew that Al-Ahli club of Egypt, for example, has 80, 000 members. If we managed to have 10,000 I’m sure the club will never suffer any financial problems,” he said.
On the issue of women knocking on the club doors, he said “ we are trying to think of ways to allow them in without having to compromise religion and culture in the country. We have to get the permission from the General Presidency of Saudi Youth Welfare first.”
“Women in Saudi Arabia need to be more aware of sports health and fitness and opening our doors to them is just one way to do it. Unfortunately, after finishing a survey of around 28, 000 women aged 30 and above around the Kingdom, the results were shocking. Up to 40 percent suffer from obesity. This of course will lead to many other and even worse diseases.”
The results also showed that women in rural areas have better health because they get to move and work a lot in their homes, while the percentage of obesity increased in the cities because of a luxurious lifestyle. “Women need to work out more often in a professional way,” he said.
Of his job at Ittihad, Marzouqi said, “I couldn’t really get away from sports or the club. It seems like Al-Ittihad runs in the family and in our veins and blood. I’ve headed a hospital so I got both backgrounds and now its time to do the same at the club. It is not an easy job but with God’s will, we will hopefully make a difference. This difference will include football, and the other sports as well with the help of many passionate and enthusiastic Ittihad fans.”
