Where next for Saudi national team after Mancini’s departure?

The most obvious option for the Saudi Arabia job is former coach Herve Renard, pictured here in charge of the Green Falcons at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (AFP/File Photo)
The most obvious option for the Saudi Arabia job is former coach Herve Renard, pictured here in charge of the Green Falcons at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (AFP/File Photo)
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Updated 26 October 2024
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Where next for Saudi national team after Mancini’s departure?

Where next for Saudi national team after Mancini’s departure?
  • Herve Renard is being touted for a dramatic return to coach the Green Falcons, but there are other home-grown and international options for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation

RIYADH: It has been weeks, perhaps even months, in the making, but was finally made official in the past week — Saudi Arabia and Roberto Mancini have parted ways, just over a year after the Italian was named head coach of the national football team.

Mancini took the reins shortly after winning the European Championships with Italy in 2021, and his appointment appeared to be a coup for a Saudi side still basking in the afterglow of their historic win over Argentina at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

But a disastrous AFC Asian Cup campaign, with Mancini walking out on his side during their penalty shootout loss to South Korea, did little to endear the 59-year-old to the Saudi faithful.

Following a slow start to World Cup qualifying, with just a single win after four matches, including three at home, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation decided to act.

Now, with less than three weeks until their next encounter — a must-win trip to Melbourne to face a resurgent Australian outfit — the biggest question is who will replace the veteran Italian?

The SAFF’s choice will tell us a lot about the direction they want the team to take. Do they go for another big name, like Mancini? Do they look local and give the opportunity to an emerging coach? Or do they go for sentiment and welcome a favorite son back into the fold?

With the rumor mill kicking into overdrive, we take a look at some of the names already linked to the vacancy.

Herve Renard

The most obvious option is former coach Herve Renard. If the SAFF had their way, he would still be in charge, given they handed him a contract extension in May 2022 that would have seen him through until 2027, when the country is due to host the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in its history.

They were blindsided when the Frenchman resigned to take up a role as coach of the French women’s team ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, but having departed Les Bleues after their recent Olympic Games campaign, the 56-year-old is a free agent and looking for work.

There are obvious reasons why turning to Renard would make sense for a federation and team in desperate need of stability. In his previous reign, he molded this Saudi side into one of the continent’s best, a team capable of challenging the world’s top lineups. Who could forget that incredible win over Argentina at Lusail Stadium?

Along the way, in World Cup qualifying, they were a formidable outfit, with wins over Japan and Australia, even holding the Socceroos to a draw on the road. And they actually topped the group, finishing ahead of both Japan and Australia.

Having been drawn with the same two nations for this campaign, they have already suffered a loss at home to Japan — the first time Japan have won on Saudi soil — and next up face a trip to Australia.

Knowing this team, and the nuances and culture of Saudi football, Renard would be a safe pair of hands at a time when stability is needed. The question is, having walked away once already, does he want to return?

Tite

No sooner had Mancini’s departure been made official than rumors began to swirl that the 63-year-old Brazilian was in the mix to replace the Italian.

The former Selecao manager, who led Brazil to Copa America success in 2019, would fit the brief as a high-profile coach having also won the Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup with Corinthians, both back in 2012.

His record, particularly with Brazil, cannot be faulted. In 2016, he inherited a Brazilian side still suffering from the trauma of the 7-1 humiliation by Germany on home soil two years earlier. At the time Brazil were sixth in CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and at risk of the unthinkable, missing qualification for the first time in their history.

However, Tite turned everything around. His six-year tenure in charge makes him Brazil’s longest-serving manager, and with a winning percentage of 74 percent — winning 60 of his 81 matches — also one of their most successful. He has lost only six matches across six years.

But two of those losses, in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup quarterfinals, left a sour aftertaste given how highly rated Brazil were heading into those tournaments. An exit at the final eight falls well short of expectations for a nation like Brazil.

While he has experience working in the UAE, with time spent at both Al-Ain and Al-Wahda, Tite would be a novice when it comes to Saudi Arabia. With their World Cup hopes at a crossroads, can they afford to risk a manager who would need time to get up to speed with the players and the environment within the country?

There is also the fact that, aside from two brief stints in the UAE, both of which ended prematurely, he has never worked outside Brazil in his 34 years as a manager. Is he a risk worth taking for Saudi Arabia?

Saleh Al-Mohammadi

Perhaps a left-field choice, Saleh Al-Mohammadi is considered the pick of the local options, perhaps even ahead of Saad Al-Shehri, who took Saudi Arabia all the way to the title at the U23 AFC Asian Cup in 2022.

Al-Mohammadi is a former Al-Ahli and national team player, and has spent significant time working in the national teams program as coach of the Kingdom’s under-19 team between 2020 and 2024, winning back-to-back U20 Arab Cups in 2021 and 2022.

During that time he worked with a number of players who have since stepped up to the senior side, including Abdullah Radif; Musab Al-Juwayr; and Marwan Al-Sahafi, who is impressing on loan in Belgium with Beerschot, where he scored twice in a recent win over Anderlecht.

More recently appointed head coach of Al-Hazem, Al-Mohammadi is one of very few Saudis afforded an opportunity in the top two divisions of Saudi football. He has the side third after the opening six rounds of the Saudi First Division League and winning plaudits for the manner in which they are performing.

Al-Mohammadi has the benefit of local knowledge and experience working within the national team set-ups, but is he experienced enough for the cut-and-thrust of a do-or-die World Cup qualification battle?


Common sense needed to solve crisis at the ICC

Common sense needed to solve crisis at the ICC
Updated 05 December 2024
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Common sense needed to solve crisis at the ICC

Common sense needed to solve crisis at the ICC
  • Standfirst: Jay Shah has a full inbox after becoming chair of the International Cricket Council

Jay Shah’s tenure as chair of the International Cricket Council began officially on Dec. 1. His first public pronouncement focused on the vision to take advantage of cricket’s participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and accelerate the growth of women’s cricket.

Shah also referred to the game being “at a critical juncture with the coexistence of multiple formats.” He did not mention the biggest item occupying his in-box, the schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy, that urgently requires resolution.

This has implications for the four-year broadcast deal awarded to Disney Star for TV and digital rights. The deal covers all ICC men’s and women’s events from 2024 to 2027 for the Indian market. A significant part of the income stream for Disney Star is based on matches between India and Pakistan in ICC events. The loss of one, possibly, two, such matches in the Champions Trophy will put a hole in the ICC’s financial model and media contracts.

In the medium and longer term, Shah is well aware of the immense potential that cricket has to engage with fans globally. It is a moot point how much of the globe cricket can appeal to — Russia is suspended from the ICC and the game has so far failed to gain much traction in China. It has a limited foothold in South America. However, there are encouraging signs in Africa, not least in Nigeria. It is easy to see why the 2028 Olympics are framed as a seminal event for cricket.    

The issue of multiple formats in co-existence is one that will only become more complex during Shah’s tenure. He has been quoted as saying that Test cricket “remains the pinnacle of the game. I am dedicated to preserving its stature while enhancing its appeal to fans.” It is not clear what the last phrase refers to. Does it mean, for example, fewer or more Test-playing nations, or ensuring that the best players are made available? They are being pulled in different directions at the same time, largely by money.

This week, all formats of cricket are being played internationally. In men’s Tests series, Australia is host to India, New Zealand to England, South Africa to Sri Lanka and the West Indies to Bangladesh. After the latter series, the teams will play three ODIs. In T20s, Zimbabwe is hosting Pakistan while, elsewhere in Africa, the T20 Africa Continental Cup is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda. This follows on from the T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group C held in Abuja. Nigeria and Botswana progressed to the regional final. In Argentina, the Americas Sub-regional T20 World Cup qualifier is being contested by nine teams. 

On Dec. 2, the final of the Abu Dhabi T10 league was played. It included some familiar names, including Jos Buttler and Nicholas Pooran. These two players, alone, provide ample indication of the opportunities and options available to top players. The England and Wales Cricket Board has taken a bold and, possibly, counter-productive step to address the issue.

In an effort to preserve the quality of its domestic cricket, the ECB is proposing to ban players from appearing in franchise leagues that clash with its domestic schedules, except the Indian Premier League. The first flashpoint is the Pakistan Super League, moved to April in 2025 to accommodate the Champions Trophy. Such a ban will jeopardise the income streams of some players, who may decide to forego English first-class cricket. Legal challenges are expected.

No such issue exists in the world from which Shah has just moved. Contracted Indian cricketers are forbidden from playing in any franchise league other than the IPL. These decisions are for individual boards, not the ICC. Those boards whose players are in greatest demand are faced with a growing dilemma. There are now about 20 franchise leagues and the number is growing — Nepal being the latest. The issue for Shah and the ICC is how his vow to preserve Test cricket can withstand this challenge.

Conversely, Shah’s ambition to accelerate the development of women’s cricket is probably pushing at an open door. Prior to his succession, the quickening of pace was already in train. On Nov. 4, the ICC released the Women’s Future Tours Programme for the 2025-2029 cycle. This involves 11 of the 12 ICC full members. Afghanistan’s women’s cricketers are currently in exile — another matter lurking in Shah’s inbox. 

An ICC women’s event is scheduled for every year. After the ODI World Cup in India closes the previous cycle, there will be a T20 World Cup in 2026 in England, a six-team Champions Trophy in 2027 and a T20 World Cup in 2028. The lineup for the 2029 World Cup will be based on 132 ODIs played over the cycle in 44 series of three matches each, teams playing four series at home and away. There are 210 T20s scheduled, a 30 percent increase on the previous cycle.

There is also an increase in Test matches, from seven to 15. These will feature Australia, England, India, South Africa and the West Indies, who last played a Test in 2004. This increase will probably not satisfy those players who view Test cricket as the pinnacle. Preparation for it is essential and occasional matches do not facilitate a buildup of experience. Shah’s predecessor poured cold water on the prospects of more opportunities for women’s Tests. It remains to be seen if Shah’s positive statements regarding women’s cricket extend to Tests.

Given his opening remarks, Shah’s focus is more likely to be fixed on opportunities offered by the July 2028 Olympics and the short format. This fits with a desire to engage and expand globally.

Yet, all of this is overshadowed by the crisis surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy. ICC income is based on sales of media rights and tournament revenue. These depend on viewers and are highly sensitive to interruption. Lower income means lower disbursement of funds to members. This would hit ICC associate members badly and dent their growth prospects. The neutrality required constitutionally of an ICC chair faces an early Test.


UAE-based motorsport talent set for Formula 4 Middle East debuts at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

UAE-based motorsport talent set for Formula 4 Middle East debuts at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Updated 05 December 2024
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UAE-based motorsport talent set for Formula 4 Middle East debuts at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

UAE-based motorsport talent set for Formula 4 Middle East debuts at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
  • Adam Al-Azhari and August Raber will make their debut for Yas Heat Racing at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend

ABU DHABI: The Formula 4 Middle East Trophy Round returns to Yas Marina Circuit as part of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 this weekend. 

Abu Dhabi’s own Yas Heat Racing Formula 4 Middle East team features an exciting line-up of promising young talent, with 15-year-old future motorsport stars Adam Al-Azhari and August Raber both driving for the outfit.

Al-Azhari, who made waves in Formula 4 Spain last season, is eager to build on that experience and develop his race-craft as he represents Yas Heat Racing for the first time at his home track. Joining him is teammate August Raber, whose rise through the karting ranks has made him a talent to watch as he makes his official racing debut at his home circuit.

Meanwhile Emirati racing sensations Amna and Hamda Al-Qubaisi will compete in the Formula 1 Academy finale as Yas Heat Racing ambassadors. Hamda, driving for Red Bull Racing, returns to her home track after a remarkable second F1 Academy season that sees her currently in P6 in the championship standings. Amna, for Visa Cash App RB, continues to blaze a trail for Emirati women in motorsport.

Francesca Pardini of Yas Heat Racing said: “This season marks a new chapter for Yas Heat Racing, with a mix of experienced drivers and emerging talent ready to take on the challenge. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix offers an unparalleled platform to showcase their skills and their development plan in front of the world’s best racers, setting the tone for a successful year ahead.”

Following the non-point scoring Trophy Round at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the F4 Middle East season will officially begin at Kuwait Motor Town on Jan. 17, with rounds confirmed at both Yas Marina Circuit and Dubai Autodrome. The venue for the season finale is still to be announced.


Local stars in the mix after first round of Saudi International

Local stars in the mix after first round of Saudi International
Updated 05 December 2024
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Local stars in the mix after first round of Saudi International

Local stars in the mix after first round of Saudi International
  • Khalid Attieh hit a sensational 4-under 67 to sit just three shots off the lead set by Chinese Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun

RIYADH:  Saudi Arabia’s local golfing talent put on a strong showing as the season-ending PIF Saudi International presented by SoftBank Investment Advisers got underway at Riyadh Golf Club on Wednesday.

Khalid Attieh, who recently turned professional, celebrated his new status with a sensational four-under 67 made up of five birdies and one bogey, leaving him just three shots off the lead set by Chinese Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand.

His compatriot, Saud Al-Sharif, finished a shot further behind after five birdies and two bogeys for his 68.

Attieh was delighted to put on such a good show on home turf. He said: “It was a good round. Hit the ball pretty good, putted good as well. The course is playing great. They have done a great job in setting it up such in a short time with all the events coming up.

“Greens are rolling really nicely. If you hit your lines here, you are definitely going to make some putts. Looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully keep it going. This is my home course, so I know how the greens are a little bit.”

The International Series is committed to developing the game, offering promising players a chance to play with some of the biggest names in the world. Attieh took full advantage earlier this season, making history by becoming the first Saudi amateur to make the cut in a pro tournament at International Series Oman. He followed that up by making the Black Mountain Championship in Thailand and the BNI Indonesian Masters.

He was understandably delighted to put on a good first-round display as a pro in front of home fans. He said: “It’s great to have them out here. You don’t get a lot of weeks where you have got home support. It has been a long journey traveling around Asia. With the home support, I think it’s very helpful and acts as a motivation for me.”

Reflecting on the learning curve that Saudi players are experiencing this week, he added: “It’s a great opportunity for us. Some great players here, so I am learning a lot. Just watching yesterday a few guys chip, you learn so much. And even playing with all the players today, they have a lot more experience, so it is nice to see how they compose themselves on and off the golf course. I thank Golf Saudi and the Federation for supporting us through this journey.”

Al-Sharif has not yet made a cut all season, and he was delighted with his first round in Riyadh — an excellent display on a very special day.

He said: “It was a good day today. I had the pleasure and the privilege to be playing with two awesome players, Brendan Steele and Scott Vincent. So I enjoyed my day. Obviously turning 25 today, it is my birthday too, so that’s icing on the cake.

“It is a bonus to play well. Feels nice obviously to play well on the home course. Looking forward to keeping the form up.”

Al-Sharif said he was delighted with the home support that turned out to cheer on the five home hopes and some of the best players in world golf.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “Obviously, that is our main objective here with the players, to get more people into golf. It is awesome to see — it’s awesome to see those teammates get the chance to play in events like this.”

Promising Moroccan amateur Adam Bresnu, who made the weekend last time out at International Series Qatar, continued his fine form with a five-under round of 66. Bresnu recently won the Pan Arab Golf Championship at Al-Zorah Golf & Yacht Club in Ajman. 


Heat embarrass Lakers, Hawks end Bucks’ winning streak

Heat embarrass Lakers, Hawks end Bucks’ winning streak
Updated 05 December 2024
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Heat embarrass Lakers, Hawks end Bucks’ winning streak

Heat embarrass Lakers, Hawks end Bucks’ winning streak
  • Herro scored 21 of his 31 points in the third quarter and finished with nine of the Heat’s franchise record-equalling 24 three-pointers
  • Boston Celtics shrugged off the absence of superstar Jayson Tatum, leading by as many as 20 points in a 130-120 victory over the Detroit Pistons

LOS ANGELES: Miami guard Tyler Herro starred as the Heat humbled LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 134-93 on Wednesday, leaving the Lakers looking for answers after their biggest defeat of the NBA season.

Herro scored 21 of his 31 points in the third quarter and finished with nine of the Heat’s franchise record-equalling 24 three-pointers.

Jimmy Butler added 17 points and Bam Adebayo had 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who set a franchise record with 42 assists as they kept their offense firing against the lethargic Lakers.

The Heat were already up by 17 at halftime, but Herro erupted in the third quarter, draining seven three-pointers to match the Heat record for most in a period.

“This past road trip, we let two slip, and it was the energy ... it was just our energy was off,” Adebayo said. “We came into this game with great energy, and you see what happened.”

The Lakers, coming off a 29-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, looked listless on both ends of the floor.

“I’m embarrassed, we’re all embarrassed,” Lakers first-year coach JJ Redick said. “It’s not a game where we had the right fight, the right professionalism.

“There has to be some ownership,” he added. “I own this, but there’s going to have to be some ownership on the court.”

There were encouraging signs for James, who came in mired in a shooting slump and scored a team-high 29 points on efficient 12 of 18 shooting.

The league’s all-time leading scorer also ended his streak of four straight games without a three-pointer, making one of his four attempts from beyond the arc.

That trey was the 2,451st of his career, passing Kyle Korver for seventh on the league’s all-time list.

That will be little consolation now that the Lakers have lost six of their last eight games.

A frustrated James said it wasn’t a matter of the game plan.

“If you don’t want to come to compete ... that’s other issues,” he said. “It’s definitely embarrassing for sure.”

On Friday the Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks, who snapped the Bucks’ seven-game winning streak with a 119-104 victory in Milwaukee.

Jalen Johnson scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Atlanta and De’Andre Hunter added 20 points off the bench as the Hawks notched their fifth straight victory.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and teammate Damian Lillard added 21, but Milwaukee couldn’t build on an early 10-point advantage.

The Hawks took the lead late in the first quarter and never trailed again.

The NBA champion Boston Celtics shrugged off the absence of superstar Jayson Tatum, leading by as many as 20 points in a 130-120 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

With Tatum and Jrue Holiday sidelined with knee injuries, Jaylen Brown stepped up and led the Celtics with 28 points and nine assists.

Brown scored 23 points in the first half to put Boston on the road to victory, and the Celtics weathered a late Pistons surge to complete the wire-to-wire victory.

Kristaps Porzingis, still getting back to top form after returning in November from ankle surgery, scored 26 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots for Boston.

Cade Cunningham had a near triple-double of 27 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists and Tobias Harris added another 27 points for Detroit.

The Orlando Magic bounced back from a blowout loss to the New York Knicks with a 106-102 victory over the injury-depleted 76ers in Philadelphia.

The Sixers, with Paul George and star center Joel Embiid both sidelined, cut a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to one with 22.3 seconds remaining, but the Magic closed it out with free throws from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.


Pakistan eye whitewash against Zimbabwe in third T20I today

Pakistan eye whitewash against Zimbabwe in third T20I today
Updated 05 December 2024
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Pakistan eye whitewash against Zimbabwe in third T20I today

Pakistan eye whitewash against Zimbabwe in third T20I today
  • Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets on Tuesday to register 10-wicket victory in second T20I
  • Spinner Sufiyan Muqeem returned figures of 5-3, the best by a Pakistani bowler in T20I format

ISLAMABAD: After securing a commanding victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I this week, Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in the third T20I of the series at Bulawayo as it eyes completing a 3-0 whitewash over the hosts. 

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets on Tuesday as spinner Sufiyan Muqeem registered the best figures by a Pakistan bowler in T20I, returning figures of 5-3. 

Set to chase a paltry 58, Pakistan chased the target with 14.3 overs to spare, marking the biggest win by balls remaining between two Full Members in men’s T20I cricket.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced its playing Xi for the third T20I against Zimbabwe. 

“Pakistan playing XI for 3rd T20I against Zimbabwe,” the PCB wrote on social media platform X. 

The playing XI features openers Omair Bin Yousuf and Sahibzada Farhan as well as middle-order batters Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Tayyab Tahir, Qasim Akram, Arafat Minhas and all-rounders Jahandad Khan and Abbas Afridi. 

Pakistan have featured Mohammad Hasnain and Sufyan Muqeem as featured bowlers. The match has been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today.