Egypt had its own widely-loved dark nightingale, Al-Andaleeb Al-Asmar Abd El-Halim Hafez. Saudi Arabia has its own yellow nightingale, Al-Andaleeb Al-Asfar. He is Saleh Al-Qarni who has been singing for Al-Ittihad since 1982. His songs are always catchy and easily memorized by children, young people and all Ittihad fans. Al-Qarni was an Ittihad footballer in 1975 but his father wanted him to continue his studies so he did. Three years later he joined the Ittihad Youth Volleyball team and won the Kingdom League the same year. Then he went to work for Al-Khaleejiah for Publicity Advertising & Public Relations where he has remained up to now. In 1973, Al-Qarni was very young but his love for Ittihad was already evident. He explained, “I was living in a district which the footballers’ bus passed through. The whole district — actually the whole city — was cheering for them. They were the oldest and most popular club and I soon found myself hooked on them.”
Al-Qarni is part of the Ittihad Cheering Squad and though the official members are only 30, during matches, each one — who is from a different district — must bring at least seven or eight fans with him. They are always there well before the match to delight the fans and welcome the players when they arrive. “Ittihad fans are very quick in memorizing new songs. It does not take us more than a few minutes before the match to get the new songs known. The cheering squad sings and almost at once, the whole Ittihadi yellow and black side of the stadium is repeating the words and waving their flags and black and yellow tigers,” he said. Being on the cheering squad is a volunteer job but it means the members get to cheer, attend matches, visit the club and use its facilities. They also play on their own cheering squad football and volleyball teams. Many of the songs have their origins in Hijazi folklore but the words have been changed to fit the present situation.
Al-Qarni is the person everyone looks for among Ittihad fans and he has become a symbol. He attends the matches and their training sessions. Many of his songs have been dedicated to such footballers as Hamza Idrees and basketball players such as Ali Al-Maghrabi and Adil Al-Jihani. “Who scores a lot, receives a lot,” he said. If you ask any football fan — whether supporter of Ittihad, Ahli or Hilal — they will all agree: “Saleh Al-Qarni is the best cheering squad singer.” Though his songs were written in the first place for Ittihad, they often suit all clubs and the Saudi national team as well. His passion for what he does and his love of sports have made him loved and respected by all. His songs do not disparage other clubs nor are they rude; they motivate both fans and players and even if there is a word or phrase to tease the opposition, in the second stanza, the balance will be restored.
In 1989 Al-Qarni officially became the president of Al-Ittihad Cheering Squad. He issued six albums for Ittihad which were normally for sale at the beginning of every new football season. The majority who buy the albums are Ittihad fans, but it is not unusual to see the fans of other clubs enjoying his songs. They also download them from the Internet but this does not bother Al-Qarni. “We can not stop people from downloading something for free. The songs belong to the fans and they are for them. Our songs are registered with the Ministry of Culture and Information so I don’t mind as long as people do not sell them. The truth is that it is wonderful to hear my songs sung everywhere.”
Due to his popularity, Al-Qarni visits schools for graduation parties or other celebrations. The students immediately start singing his songs to greet him. “It is amazing. Even the young ones already know them by heart. When I hold the microphone and ask them who they love, the Ittihad fans cheer for their club while the Ahli fans cheer for theirs. It is all done with love and understanding.” He added that some of the student ask him for autographs. “When the Ahli fans come, I tease them and refuse to sign. They get upset and say we will not love you any longer, Uncle Saleh, and so of course, I end up giving my autograph happily and with pleasure.”
For Al-Qarni, it is not only about singing. He offers the club his time, enjoys being with the team and talks to them to motivate them before and after the matches. He has also suggested bringing academics who could give encouraging lectures in order to increase the athletes’ confidence.
“I know there are many who would like to give lectures, especially to the younger generation. Athletes need to know that even if they lose, they can overcome the problems and do better the next time. They need to learn about the importance of education in guaranteeing a stable future. I wish this kind of thing would begin now.”
Though Al-Qarni is truly involved with Ittihad and tries in every way to do the best for them, when it comes to his wife and four daughters, they are special and dear to his heart in his own private way. “As soon as I get to my house, my time belongs to my family. They understand my love for Ittihad. Whenever Ittihad loses, my daughters start sending me messages, ‘It’s OK Dad, next time they will win.’ And this really cheers me up.” Though he loves Ittihad and values his relationship with the club and all members, he says, “Family comes first.”
Al-Qarni’s songs can be purchased through music stores or downloaded through several Ittihad fans’ forums and websites such as www.ittihadfans.com.
