Northern Irish coach Brendan Rodgers, manager of Al-Qadisiyah FC, expressed his immense pride in his players' performance following their resounding and well-deserved 5-1 victory over Al-Hazm in the 16th round of the Saudi Professional League. Rodgers emphasized that this win reflects the attacking mentality he is striving to instill in the team, but stressed that there is still a long way to go to achieve their goals this season.

Statements reflecting satisfaction and ambition

In the post-match press conference, Rodgers stated, “I’ve been incredibly proud of this team since the moment I arrived. I promised we would be an attacking side, and today we scored five goals, and we could have scored more.” He praised the players’ high level of physicality and their ability to maintain pressure on the opposition until the final minutes of the match, adding, “My team relies on creating chances and converting them into goals, and the players showed fantastic consistency in pressing today. The only negative point is that we conceded a goal, which is something we are working to avoid in the future.”.

Al-Qadisiyah's ambitious project in the Roshan League

This strong performance by Al-Qadisiyah comes within the context of an ambitious sporting project, especially after the team's return to the top flight this season. The club enjoys significant support following its acquisition by Saudi Aramco, which has enabled it to attract prominent international figures, most notably coach Brendan Rodgers, who boasts a successful track record with major clubs such as Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester City. Rodgers' appointment itself is evidence that the club's ambitions extend beyond simply remaining in the professional league and are aimed at competing for top positions.

The impact of the victory on the team's performance and league competition

This resounding victory not only secures three valuable points for Al-Qadisiyah in the standings but also sends a strong message to the rest of the Roshan League that the team is a serious contender. Given the high level of competition in the Saudi League, with its constellation of international stars, achieving such impressive results boosts player confidence and raises the expectations of the fans. Furthermore, the success of a coach of Rodgers' caliber enhances the league's international profile and confirms its appeal to the world's best coaches. Despite the joy of the result, Rodgers concluded his remarks with a realistic tone, stating, "We're not even halfway through the season yet, but I'm delighted with the players' attitude and their unwavering desire to win.".

Al-Qadisiyah coach Brendan Rodgers expressed his immense pride in his players' performance after their resounding 5-1 victory over Al-Hazm in the 16th round of the Saudi Professional League. Rodgers emphasized that this win reflects the attacking mentality he is striving to instill within the team.

In the post-match press conference, Rodgers stated, “I’ve been incredibly proud of this team since the moment I arrived. I promised we would be an attacking side, and today we scored five goals, and we could have scored more.” He praised the players’ high level of fitness and their ability to maintain a high press until the final minutes of the match, adding, “My team relies on creating chances and converting them into goals, and the players showed fantastic tactical discipline today. However, the undesirable thing is that we conceded a goal, which is something we must work to avoid in the future to maintain our defensive solidity.”.

Al-Qadisiyah's ambitious project in the Roshan League

This strong performance comes within the context of the ambitious project undertaken by Al-Qadisiyah Club, recently promoted back to the ranks of the Saudi Professional League. Following the acquisition of the club by Saudi Aramco, expectations and ambitions have risen significantly, with the club aiming to build a team capable of strongly competing for domestic titles and making its mark in continental competitions. The appointment of a world-class coach of Brendan Rodgers' caliber, with his extensive experience in major European leagues, is clear evidence of the management's commitment to achieving these goals.

The importance of winning and its impact on the team's journey

This resounding victory is more than just three points; it sends a powerful message to all competitors in the Roshan League that Al-Qadisiyah will not be mere participants, but genuine contenders for the top spots. This win boosts the players' confidence and confirms the success of coach Rodgers' tactical philosophy, giving the team a tremendous morale boost to finish the season with the same fighting spirit. Furthermore, the rise of ambitious teams like Al-Qadisiyah contributes to raising the level of competition in the Saudi League, increasing its appeal both regionally and internationally.

Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Rodgers was keen to remind his players that the journey was still in its early stages, saying, "We still have a long way to go; the season isn't even halfway through." He concluded by expressing his delight with "the players' attitude and their hunger for victory," which reflects the winning culture and professionalism he seeks to instill in the team to achieve sustained success.

In a significant turning point for the cultural landscape of the Al-Baha region, the Al-Baha Literary Association's board elections resulted in the selection of renowned poet and media personality Hassan bin Mohammed Al-Zahrani as its first chairman. This election marks the culmination of a transitional phase that saw the region's literary club transformed into a non-profit association, in line with the Ministry of Culture's strategy to develop the cultural sector in the Kingdom.

The voting process took place in a democratic atmosphere and was overseen by a specialized committee comprising Professor Khairallah Zarban, Professor Amin Al-Asri, and Professor Najwa Al-Omari. The interim chairman of the board, Dr. Mansour Al-Harthi, and members of the general assembly, who expressed their confidence in the winning list, were also present. In addition to Al-Zahrani, Professor Musfir Al-Adwani was elected vice president, while Ghaliyah Jumaan Al-Qalti, Areej Hanish Atiq, and Tawfiq Ghanem were elected as board members, each receiving 10 votes.

Background to the transformation: From club to association

This transformation is part of a comprehensive national project launched by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in 2019, aimed at converting all sixteen literary clubs in the Kingdom into non-profit, non-governmental organizations. This strategic step aims to enhance the independence of these cultural entities, enabling them to diversify their funding sources and expand their activities to encompass various aspects of literature, culture, and the arts. This new legal framework also grants them greater flexibility in forging partnerships with the public and private sectors, allowing them to contribute more effectively to achieving the cultural objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

The importance of the event and its expected impact

Locally, this transformation is expected to open new horizons for the cultural landscape in the Al-Baha region. After decades of operating under the umbrella of literary clubs, which played a pivotal role in nurturing talent and disseminating literary works, the new association will be able to launch more innovative and diverse initiatives, such as cultural festivals, specialized workshops, and programs aimed at youth and children, thus enhancing cultural activity and making it more connected to the local community. Nationally, the success of this experiment in Al-Baha and other regions demonstrates the maturity of the Saudi cultural sector and its ability to evolve and adapt to the demands of the times, transitioning from direct government support to a more sustainable model based on governance and community participation.

The cultural community places great hopes on the new board of directors, led by Al-Zahrani, who is known for his long history of serving culture, to lead the association towards achieving its goals and enhancing Al-Baha’s position as an important cultural destination on the map of the Kingdom.