JEDDAH, 18 May 2007 — The football season is yet to end but 2007 will go down in history as a year to remember for the Jeddah-based Ahli club because Ahli won two titles — Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup and Crown Prince Cup. Making Ahli club’s double championship all the sweeter was the fact that both titles came against the archrival Al-Ittihad. Ahli defeated Ittihad 3-0 in Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup and 2-1 in Crown Prince Cup final.
The road to glory is a story to tell. Participating in four championships — three local and one regional, Arab Champions League — Ahli had to sacrifice one championship, King’s Cup, and concentrate on the other three. Ahli managed to win two of the three championships. Ahli advanced to the final stages of the Arab Champions League and were close to qualify for the final were it not for the special circumstances that came with the game and the injustice Ahli faced against the referee. Ahli gained a spot in the Arab Champions League after finishing second to Hilal in the Crown Prince Cup last year.
Ahli were very much satisfied with last year’s performance and decided to keep the coach Nebusha and the team officials headed by Ahmad Al-Marzooki. Ahli’s coach promised the fans the title and that he would start a new team and inject the team with new blood.
Ahli’s choice of professional players this year was very successful with the hiring of Khaled Badra, Tunisian team captain and star defender, along with the Tunisia striker Haykal Gamamdeya. The third player was the Brazilian professional Kaio, who played a very important role in the two victories against Ittihad in the final. He was the star player who set up the two important goals against Ittihad in the final of Crown Prince Cup competition. He also played a very important role in marshalling the midfield.
Badra brought his wealth of experience to Ahli and managed to strengthen the weakest line in Ahli, which was defense. Badra had played with Ahli previously and helped the team win the Arab championship more than three years ago. Badra and Waleed Abdu Rabbu managed to form a good defensive team.
Ahli started the season with Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Cup. Ahli qualified in the nick of time as the best of second placed teams in the three groups. Ahli came in a group with Shabab, Taie and Al-Hazem. Many thought that Ahli would not make it to the next round especially after losing the very important deciding match against Shabab 3-2. Ahli faced Qadisiya in the semifinals. And with difficultly and with penalty kicks, Ahli qualified for the finals opposite Ittihad. Ahli confounded critics who betted on Ittihad especially because Ahli were not lucky lately in winning matches against Ittihad in the final.
In Crown Prince Cup, Ahli started their title quest with an easy 3-0 win against Riyadh in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Ahli faced Al-Hazem and advanced to the semifinals with the star Malek Muaz scoring the goal for Ahli in the 43rd minute.
Ahli encountered the biggest obstacle on the way when Ahli faced the defending champions Hilal who were determined to keep the title for another year. Ahli struck down Hilal in the semfinal first leg match with a 2-0 win on goals from Badra and Muaz. In the second leg match, Ahli kept Hilal at bay with a 1-1 draw and won 3-1 on aggregate. The stage was set for a second final between Ahli and Ittihad. Earlier before this match, Ahli lost against Ittihad 3-0 in a match in the Saudi league, which witnessed the return of Ittihad team captain Muhammad Nur.
Ittihad fans vowed to retaliate against Ahli and secure the second major title in the season and defeat Ahli. Ittihad hopes of winning the title evaporated in thin air when Al-Jasem and Muaz scored two goals for Ahli.
Ahli’s mission in the King’s Cup was decided after Ahli lost the match against Ittihad 3-0.
The coach’s decision was to sacrifice the King’s Cup and concentrate on Crown Prince Cup and the ACL. Ahli decided not to pursue to qualify for the King’s Cup Final Four in the Saudi league.
Ahli’s coach had promised the fans to win the King’s Cup if the club signs him to another contract next season. Ahli are in negotiations with Nebusha and the fate of the coach will be known tomorrow after the board meeting.
