On a difficult football night for Al-Shabab fans, Abdulaziz Al-Malik, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Shabab Club, made urgent and frank statements following the heavy defeat his team suffered against Al-Ahli Club by five goals to nil, in the top match of the twenty-second round of the Roshan Professional League competition, which was held at Al-Inma Stadium.

Acknowledging mistakes and taking responsibility

The Al-Shabab president didn't seek flimsy excuses to justify the resounding defeat. Instead, he faced the situation with administrative courage, stating in his post-match media remarks: "The mistakes today were technical, and we take responsibility for them. I can bear some responsibility for today's loss." This statement reflects a sense of dissatisfaction with the team's performance, which appeared disjointed in the face of Al-Ahli's relentless attacks.

The transfer crisis and a message to the Ministry of Sports

In discussing the reasons for the decline, Al-Malik revealed important administrative details regarding strengthening the team's ranks, pointing to challenges the management faced in the transfer process. He explained, "We made promises on three matters; the first, the local deals, were fulfilled; the second, the foreign deals, were rejected; and the third, we submitted requests more than once, and I hope the ministry will approve what we submitted today.".

These statements raise numerous questions about the obstacles preventing Al-Shabab from finalizing its foreign player contracts compared to rival clubs, especially given the significant support the sports sector receives in the Kingdom. The president's reference to the "Ministry" suggests the existence of outstanding issues awaiting administrative and financial resolution to salvage the team's season.

The repercussions of the five-goal defeat and the youth team's position in the league

The 5-0 defeat against a direct and historic rival like Al-Ahli is a devastating blow to Al-Shabab's ambitions this season, as the team continues its run of poor results that has pushed it further away from the top of the table. This result not only affects the league standings but also the morale of the players and fans, who had hoped for a performance worthy of the club's rich history.

Competition context of the Roshan League

This match comes at a time of fierce and unprecedented competition in the Roshan Professional League, as clubs strive to accumulate as many points as possible to secure their places in Asian championships. Al-Shabab's heavy defeat puts the coaching and administrative staff under immense pressure to correct course before it's too late, especially since the upcoming rounds cannot afford any further points losses if the team wants to maintain its prestige and standing among the elite.

The absence of Saudi international goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, the guardian of Al-Nassr FC's net, from the team's recent matches has sparked controversy and questions among fans and sports enthusiasts in the Kingdom. This absence comes at a crucial time in the season, as Al-Nassr is competing on several domestic and continental fronts, making clarification essential to dispel rumors.

In this context, Meshaal Al-Safai, Nawaf Al-Aqidi's agent, made important media statements clarifying his client's situation. Al-Safai confirmed that the real reason behind Al-Aqidi's exclusion was not technical or disciplinary, but rather due to purely health reasons. Al-Safai stated, "Nawaf Al-Aqidi has a chronic sinus condition, and this problem causes him particular complications while traveling by air.".

The agent explained the details of the goalkeeper's struggles with international travel, noting that the air pressure negatively impacts his health, forcing the administrative and medical staff to make special arrangements. He added, "On some international trips, Nawaf isn't with the official delegation at the same time. He either arrives in the city before they do to avoid immediate exhaustion, or he joins them later after his condition stabilizes, to ensure his safety and readiness.".

Medically speaking, it is known that sinus infections can be greatly aggravated by changes in air pressure inside airplanes, causing severe pain and headaches that may prevent a player from performing training or playing matches with full concentration. This justifies the extreme caution with which Al-Nasr’s medical staff is dealing with Al-Aqeedi’s case to ensure that the injury does not worsen.

On the technical front, and given Al-Aqeedi's health condition, the team has been relying primarily on Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto Matheus recently. Reports and observations of the Al-Nassr situation – according to the source – indicate that prominent coaches like Jorge Jesus (referring to the intense competition and the context of the circulating news) are opting for the fittest players. Pinto has proven his worth in defending the team's goal in domestic and continental competitions, capitalizing on Al-Aqeedi's absence to solidify his place in the starting lineup.

This clarification comes as Al-Nassr prepares for a crucial and highly anticipated match against Al-Fateh. This game is part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, with Al-Nassr facing a tough away fixture at Al-Fateh's home ground. This match is of paramount importance to the Riyadh-based club, which is striving to continue accumulating points and compete strongly for the league title. Therefore, the stability of the goalkeeper position will be a decisive factor in the team's performance during the remaining rounds.

Portuguese football legend and Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his full readiness to play in his team's upcoming match against Al-Fateh, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This announcement brought reassurance to Al-Nassr fans, who had been eagerly awaiting the return of their star player.

Cristiano Ronaldo posted a recent photo of himself from Al-Nassr's team training session on his official Twitter account (formerly known as X). In the photo, he appears to be performing the exercises with great seriousness and enthusiasm in preparation for the upcoming match. The "Madeira Rocket" accompanied the photo with a brief but telling caption about his mental and physical state: "Very focused," clearly indicating his readiness for the match and his complete concentration on securing the three points.

Cristiano Ronaldo's return is of paramount importance to the Riyadh-based team at this crucial juncture in the season, as "CR7" had missed the last three matches. His absence had sparked widespread concern within Al-Nassr's sporting circles, given the Portuguese star's significant leadership and tactical role on the pitch, and his direct impact on the team's results and attacking performance.

This strong comeback comes just hours before the kickoff of Al-Nassr's match against Al-Fateh, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday. Al-Nassr aims to continue its pursuit of the top spot and compete fiercely for the Saudi Professional League title. The match against Al-Fateh is considered a crucial juncture in the team's journey, requiring a high level of mental and technical readiness to overcome the opponent. This is further bolstered by the presence of a player of Ronaldo's caliber and experience, who has consistently proven decisive in such high-stakes encounters.

From a technical standpoint, Ronaldo's presence represents a tremendous morale boost for his teammates and puts psychological pressure on opposing defenses. Saudi and international fans of the Saudi Professional League eagerly await the return of the all-time top scorer to his goal-scoring form, especially since the league has become a global attraction thanks to its draw in some of the world's biggest football stars, raising the level of competition and excitement in every round.

It is worth noting that Al-Nasr's coaching staff has been working intensively over the past few days to prepare Ronaldo and ensure his full recovery, so that he will be fit to lead the team's attack in this crucial round, which promises a strong and exciting match that football fans are waiting for.