Sports should constitute an integral part of the strong Saudization drive that is now going on in both the public and private sectors. Not only that, sports should be in the forefront of any job nationalization effort since of all sectors, it is the most attractive to Saudi youth.
Younger generations should be encouraged to work in this sector for a number of reasons.
Sports are closely associated with the media and those involved often find themselves in the limelight with many living in a blaze of publicity.
Those involved in sports receive higher salaries than those in other sectors. It is also a job that requires no advanced academic or professional qualifications. Saudizing the sports sector should not be confined to issuing decisions and directives by technical committees overseeing the work of local clubs, but it must be closely monitored and followed up to ensure that the set targets are reached.
It is true that it may prove difficult to enforce Saudization in all areas. Replacing coaches may prove impossible because if unwise decisions are taken here, it could lead to ruining the game itself. There are, however, some areas where Saudization could occur without hampering the development of sports. We could start by replacing assistant foreign coaches and work to see that each local club has its Saudi assistant coaches. The job of an assistant coach is not that difficult and any former player could easily handle it.
In addition to boosting Saudization, employing as many Saudis as possible in our clubs would help prepare a generation of young Saudis to take over as technical managers and trainers. Employing these young Saudis who would have substantial experience in their fields would allow clubs to cut the high expenses of hiring foreign managers. The process should not be confined to local clubs but could be extended to cover our national teams as well.
