At first glance, the overall picture in the Saudi Professional League might seem alarming to some, especially when it comes to Al-Hilal. With every step the club takes, whether it's climbing the standings, securing new signings, or clinching victories, a feeling takes root among its rivals that the path is clearer for them than for anyone else. This leads to a buildup of controversial questions: Has Al-Hilal become bigger than the league itself? Has the balance of competitive fairness been disrupted? Has the competition become merely a facade devoid of real substance? These are legitimate questions on the surface, provocative in their timing, and they are raised forcefully whenever Al-Hilal dons its usual mantle of leadership.

General context and development of the sports project

This controversy comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation in its sports sector, as part of Vision 2030, with the Saudi League becoming a global destination attracting top football stars. This dramatic shift has raised expectations and intensified competition, placing any club's dominance under intense scrutiny. Amidst this dynamism, the potential transfer of global star Karim Benzema to Al-Hilal has reignited questions, with some viewing this high-profile deal as evidence of favoritism or double standards.

The reality of the situation and the reactions

The matter didn't stop at mere fan or media analysis; it extended to public discontent from other league stars, most notably the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, as if Al-Hilal had committed a sin by boldly strengthening its squad. In this charged atmosphere, Al-Hilal became the accused not for breaking the rules, but for mastering the art of playing within them. It was accused for possessing the administrative and financial capabilities, and for quietly succeeding while others merely shout. Herein lies a strange paradox: it seems the league needs to rein in Al-Hilal instead of working to develop its rivals to catch up.

Self-financing and refuting the accusations

However, upon pausing to analyze the facts, the narrative against Al-Hilal crumbles. When the league confirmed that the Benzema deal was financed from Al-Hilal's own resources, not from the central recruitment program, the first and most important pillar of the accusation collapsed. And when it became clear that Al-Hilal did not demand special treatment, did not resort to fan pressure tactics, and did not invoke the usual victimhood narrative, the truth emerged simpler than portrayed: we are dealing with a club that planned meticulously, invested wisely, and made a courageous decision.

Administrative stability is the secret to success

The real challenge lies not in Al-Hilal's on-field dominance, but in the fundamental question many overlook: Why does Al-Hilal succeed where others fail? Why do its signings become a harmonious system, while for others they become a technical and financial burden? The answer lies in the fact that Al-Hilal doesn't need a single star to "lead the project," because the project at Al-Hilal is driven by stable institutional work. Al-Hilal doesn't appear superior to the competition because it's pampered, as some claim, but because it's administratively and technically disciplined. It's not because it's above the system, but because it operates within it intelligently and professionally.

In the end, this argument, which may seem provocative to some, is not intended to defend Al-Hilal as much as it is intended to be a mirror reflecting a reality that some do not want to see; which is that Al-Hilal did not shorten the road to glory, but rather memorized its contours well, and that the problem was never with a club that was accustomed to winning, but rather with competitors who are still looking for a scapegoat for mistakes instead of fixing themselves.

In a tense football match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last moments, Al -Qadisiyah to achieve a valuable and hard-fought victory over their guest, Neom, with a clean goal, in the match that brought them together on Thursday evening at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, as part of the twenty-second round of the Saudi Professional League .

Match scenario: Early excitement and a goalkeeping battle

The match began at a fast pace, with both teams eager to score. Just two minutes in, Al-Qadisiyah nearly opened the scoring when Italian striker Matteo Rettigny on a glaring error by the Neom goalkeeper, but his shot struck the post and rebounded to the defense in the third minute. The home side continued to press, with Jihad Zikri unleashing a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that narrowly missed the crossbar in the 13th minute.

In contrast, Neom did not stand idly by, as their counter-attacks posed a significant threat. This was evident in the 39th minute when Argentinian Luciano Rodriguez nearly snatched the lead, were it not for the exceptional brilliance of Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels , who made a difficult save, deflecting the ball for a corner. Casteels continued his stellar performance by denying Neom another certain goal just one minute before the end of the first half.

Second half: Al-Qadsia pressure and the decisive goal

At the start of the second half, Al-Qadisiyah intensified their attacks in search of the three points. Portuguese goalkeeper Luis Maximiano made a brilliant save from a powerful shot by Ghanaian Bonsu Ba in the 68th minute, and also stood firm against a shot by Mexican Julian Quiñones in the 85th minute.

As the match was heading towards a goalless draw, Uruguayan star Nahitan Nandez in stoppage time (90+4), receiving a perfect cross inside the penalty area, which he skillfully headed into the net, announcing the killer winning goal that sparked wild joy in the stands of Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium.

The two teams' positions in the standings

With this important victory, Al-Qadisiyah continued their strong performances this season, raising their points tally to 47 , thus strengthening their position in the top four and increasing their chances of competing for continental qualification spots. Meanwhile, Neom's points total remained at 28 , keeping them in the middle of the standings, which puts further pressure on the team to improve their results in the upcoming rounds to secure their place in the league.

The importance of winning and the development of the Roshan League

This late victory reflects Al-Qadisiyah's high fighting spirit and underscores the significant improvement in the technical and physical level of Saudi clubs, thanks to the substantial support the sports sector is receiving. This match exemplifies the fierce competition in the Roshan League, where results are only decided at the final whistle, further enhancing the market value and popularity of the Saudi league, which has become a focus of global attention by attracting international stars like Nandez, Castilles, and Maximiano.

In a remarkable sporting achievement reflecting the development of squash in Saudi Arabia, Saudi star Mohammed Al-Nisfan secured his place in the semi-finals of the PSA 3K tournament . The prestigious tournament is being hosted by Riyadh from February 12th to 14th at the Falcon Squash Club, attracting significant public and media attention.

The tournament featured 16 professional players representing five countries with a long history in the sport: Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Canada, and the host country, Saudi Arabia. This diverse participation ensured a highly competitive tournament, especially with the presence of players from the Egyptian school, which is considered the world's leading squash team.

The qualifying journey and the fiery encounters

Saudi champion Mohammed Al-Nisfan began his tournament journey with determination and resolve, starting his participation in the round of 16 with a well-deserved and clean victory over his Egyptian opponent, Moamen Helmy, by a score of 3 sets to 0. This victory gave Al-Nisfan a significant morale boost to continue his progress.

In the quarter-finals, Al-Nisfan faced a truly epic match against Egyptian player Abdelrahman Mustafa. The game was fiercely contested and thrilling, lasting nearly an hour and a half with continuous play and high-level tactics, before the Saudi star managed to secure a 3-1 victory, confirming his place in the semi-finals.

The anticipated semi-final matches

All eyes will be on the Falcon Club grounds tomorrow, Friday, as the tournament continues with crucial semi-final matches. Mohammed Al-Nisfan will face a tough challenge from his Gulf counterpart, Saif Haikal of Kuwait, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. In the other semi-final, Egyptian Karim Badawi will clash with Kuwaiti Bader Al-Maghribi to determine the two finalists.

The importance of the tournament and the future of Saudi squash

This tournament holds special significance as it is part of the Professional Footballers Association (PSA) series and is being hosted by Saudi Arabia for the first time, reflecting international confidence in the Kingdom's organizational capabilities. This hosting comes within the context of the significant sporting development underway in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, which aims to promote sports participation and host world-class events.

The fact that a Saudi player has reached the final stages of a tournament featuring international professionals is a positive indicator of the rising technical level of Saudi players, resulting from exposure to different styles of play, particularly the Egyptian and Kuwaiti schools. The first day's matches witnessed a fantastic turnout of spectators who enjoyed the high level of skill, promising a bright future for the sport in the Kingdom.