JEDDAH: Rafaat Al-Turki, deputy president of Ittihad club, finished the final paper works to pave the way for the transfer of former national team player and Al-Ittihad right wing defender Ahmad Al-Dokhi to Qatar club of Qatar for one year.
The transfer value is $500,000. Al-Dokhi was unhappy after club president Jamal Abu Omara refused to meet him delaying the transfer procedure. This prompted Al-Turki to intervene and fasttrack Al-Dokhi’s move to Qatar.
According to Arab News sources, there is little time left in the player’s contact with the club and that the management wanted to benefit from the time remaining and make some cash. As for Ittihad midfielder Ibraheem Suwaeed he may or may not stay at the club. He is still awaiting offers after rejecting the one from Al-Watani of Tabuk and his coach at Ittihad is being convinced to keep him on the team.
Meantime, Ittihad’s Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon expressed his satisfaction at the team’s stint in Doha particularly its 1-0 victory in a friendly match against Umm Salal. Today, Ittihad face Al-Sadd in another friendly match in the Qatari capital. Calderon said in due time he will give young players more exposure and confidence to shine in the Saudi league.
Hamed Al-Balawi, manager of the football team, said that the matches Ittihad played against teams in preparation for the football season showed positive results about the team, which traveled to Qatar from Abha.
Muhammad Nur, Ittihad team captain, said that the team played strong matches and it showed that the players are prepared. He said, “the good thing about the preparation matches is that it showed the players jell as a team and there is a great understanding among them.” Nur predicted new faces will shine in the local competition.
