JEDDAH, 26 February 2007 — Saudi water polo is finally getting the recognition that it deserves thanks mainly to the efforts of Saudi Swimming Federation Secretary-General Ali Oun Al-Zayed.
With Al-Zayed in charge of the federation under which water polo is attached the sport enjoyed a measure of popularity and acceptance in the local sports circle.
“He is a very modest man who loves the games and wants to see us improve all the time,” said Ahmed Al-Shammar, a water polo athlete of Al-Qadisiya.
Adel Al-Malki of Al-Ittihad and Khalid Al-Harbi of Al-Ahli both looked up to Al-Zayed for guiding them and helping raise the profile of water polo in the Kingdom.
“No one used to attend matches before but now with his support and him doing a great job people are filling the stadiums more than ever,” Al-Harbi said.
Al-Zayed spoke to Arab News over the phone from Riyadh and said that national and international recognition always reflects positively on the entire Saudi Arabian Swimming Federation (SASF), not to mention the entire Kingdom as well.
Al-Zayed had been in water polo for the last 30 years. He was an active player until he became Physical Education supervisor. After earning his master’s degree he was appointed secretary-general at the federation.
“Water polo is my passion and will continue to be so. Even when I got older I’ll be there for them to watch and cheer,” he said.
He said these athletes are very motivated and deserves the best.
“We have been fortunate in our accomplishments over the past few years, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, while representing the Kingdom at the Asian Games, Saudi water polo team member, Nasser Al-Deghather, was recognized, along with the entire team that competed in Doha, by the Asian Swimming Federation.”
Secretary-general Vahid Moradi of the Asian Swimming Federation sent a letter to the athlete and the federation citing their water polo team had good performances and that Al-Dheghather was the oldest and most experienced water polo player in that competition. Al-Zayed explained they have been changing their learning and training methods from Arabic schools to learning from Ukrainian schools and now Serbian and found their coach’s style very effective with the players.
After placing second in the 1997 Arab Championships in Kuwait, the Saudi water polo team gained a lot of credibility when they emerged Asian champions during the 2001 Asia Water Polo Championship in Hong Kong. In the Islamic Solidarity Games which the Kingdom hosted in 2004 they clinched the third position.
As in football the rivalry between Ittihad and Ahli water polo teams is the main ingredient that brings the crowd to the stadiums especially during the final matches between these teams.
“I wish such a rivalry exists in the Eastern Province if only to challenge Qadisiya for them to become an even better team. This will help in creating more enjoyable derbies in the Eastern and hopefully in the Central Province as well as the Saudi League as a whole,” Al-Zayed said.
As a federation, he said they are trying to do their best, but the clubs play a big role and are to be thanked for their efforts.
One of the Spanish coaches Oun met once told him that Khalid Al-Harbi of Ahli is an excellent player and would do well if he competes in the second division of the Spanish Water Polo League.
“This was a nice compliment and means we are moving forward indeed,” he said.
Al-Zayed said they are proud of both the team and Nasser and hope that SASF will be able to continue the gains made in its water polo programs of 2007.
The one program that appeals not only to Al-Zayed but athletes as well is the government-funded scholarships in which athletes who passed high school with an average grade of 90 above are offered to study and train in a university abroad.
“Swimmer Malik Mukhtar is an example and one that Saudis shoud be very proud of and emulate,” said Al-Zayed. Mukhtar is now studying and training in Germany and started to attract German clubs there already.
Mukhtar was the first but fellow swimmer Bader Al-Muhana might be the second, Al-Zayed added. He hoped there would be more athletes to qualify for the athletic scholarship.
