And then there were three. After Al-Ittihad took out Al-Ahli 3-0 in a masterly team performance in the first stepladder match on Wednesday three teams were left standing to challenge each other for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.
Only two matches are to be played in the stepladder final and one among Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab will be crowned the champion next Friday.
Sunday’s derby match in Riyadh between Ittihad and second-ranked Hilal to determine who progresses to the winner-take-all clash against No. 1 Shabab is expected to be a toss-up with both teams in top shape and enjoying momentum.
Less than a week ago, Hilal won the Crown Prince Cup and on Wednesday crushed Mash’al of Uzbekistan in a first round Group B match in the AFC Champions League.
Ittihad, looking sharp as ever under new French coach Bruno Mestu, are themselves all psyched up entering the crucial match in the most prestigious domestic soccer competition.
To officiate the Ittihad-Hilal match at the King Fahd International Stadium are the Spanish quartet of Luis Cantalejo, Rafael Alonso, Carlos Fillit and Julian Santiago.
Their trip to the Kingdom is within the framework of cooperation between the football federations of Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Billiard and Snooker:
In Riyadh, Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, president of General Presidency of Youth Welfare, has approved the composition of the team to represent the Kingdom at the 3rd GCC Championship for Billiard and Snooker in Dubai from April 15 to 21. The prince also approved the participation of Ahmed Al-Jarallah, secretary general at the Saudi Billiard and Snooker Committee in the organizational committee meetings.
Mohammed Al-Amran, one of the administration council members, will join the Saudi national team along with the players Naif Al-Jaoni, Fahd Al-Hijaily, Abdulrahman Al-Wadi, Majid Al-Ajami. Coach Mansour Al-Khanfari is joining the trip as well as referee Adil Al-Mughim.
Equestrian Tournaments:
Equestrian fans again enjoyed their favorite sport when Buraidah hosted the 20th equestrian tournament for the Khalid Al-Saghir Commercial Group Cup on Wednesday. The event consisted of four races at the Buraidah Equestrian Club. Winner at the first race for novices over 1, 600 meters was Agil, owned by Mohammed Al-Moussa. Winner in the second race winner over 2, 000 meters was Ward Al-Riyadh, owned by Abdulilah Al-Munsalih. The winner in the mares open third race was Hala Al-Hija who topped her group at 2, 000 meters. The cup winner was Hattan owned by Al-Asayel Stable. The final race was run over a distance of 2, 000 meters.
The sixth annual cross-country race:
Abha will organized its sixth annual cross-country race on April 25. According to Dean of Student Affairs at the King Khalid University in Abha, Mubarak Ibn Hamdan, the race will start from the King Abulaziz round road and will end at the Students Affairs Office at the Taif Road. The race is open to four groups of men to participate namely students, teachers, university employees and citizens. Ibn Hamdan said cash prizes will be given away and advised those interested to register at the sport activities division of the university.
Athletic Games:
The council administration at the Saudi Athletic Games Federation met on Sunday to update and assess their preparations for the 10th Gulf Championship to be held in Al-Qateef Province from April 18 to 21 at Prince Naif ibn Abdulaziz sport city.
The council had chosen Khalid Al-Hamdan, one of council members and founding secretary to be the leader of the Saudi national team at the championship. Al-Hamdan is known for his leadership skills on and off the field. Prince Nawaf ibn Mohammed, president of the Saudi Athletic Games Federation, assured the championship will be presented in a very well organized way. During the meeting, Ibrahim Al-Owairan, director of the championship, reviewed with the prince and the rest of the members all the committees’ preparations.
The qualified athletes and the events they will enter are as follows:
Moammed Al-Bishi (200 meters and 4 x 100 meters relays), Walid Al-Birnawi (200 meters and 400 meters free), Hadi Hasan (100 meters), Younis Al-Housa (400 meters free and 4 x 400 meters relays), Mustafa Al-Ajami (110 meters hurdles), Bandar Sharahili (400 meters and 4 x 400 meters relays), Mohammed Da’ak (400 meters free and 4 x 400 meters relays), Nassr Al-Tuwairgi (javelin), Hashim Al-Agabi (high jump), Saad Al-Bishi (decathlon), Ahmed Abdulla (4 x 100 meters relays), Ahmed Al-Amri (3000 meters hurdles), Saad Al-Sibyani (800 meters), Mohammed Al-Amri (10, 000 meters), Mohammed Al- Ahmad (100 meters and 4 x 100 meters relays), Mubar Al-Jassir (high Jump), Ahmed Nizar (long Jump), Siraj Al-Dawlah (pole vault), Salman Al-Dawoud (decathlon), Abdulla Mujarshi, Nasser Al-Doussari, Faisal Darwish, Khalid Al-Issa, Issa Al-Badr, and Yihya Al-Shati (shot put).
