Sports
Ibn Saeedan takes the lead... and Al-Rajhi holds onto second place
The fifth stage of the sixth edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, which runs until January 17, has kicked off
The fifth stage of the sixth edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, which runs until January 17, has begun. The competitors started their journey today from Al-Ula to Hail, a distance of 492 km, of which 428 km is for the timed special stage. The competition witnessed American Seth Quintero, driver of the Toyota Gazoo team, taking first place in the car category, after covering the distance in 4 hours, 32 minutes and 53 seconds, far ahead of Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, driver of the Dacia Sandrider team, by only one second. Meanwhile, Swede Mattias Ekström, driver of the Ford Motorsport team, completed the top positions by finishing third, just 8 seconds behind.
South African Henk Lautigan, driving for the Toyota Gazoo team, maintained his first place in the overall standings for the cars category, followed by Saudi Yazeed Al-Rajhi, driving for the Overdrive team, in second place, despite finishing fifth in this stage. Meanwhile, Swede Mattias Ekström, driving for the Ford Motorsport team, took third place, and Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, driving for the Dacia Sandrider team, advanced to fourth place.
In the motorcycle category, Uruguayan Luciano Benavides, a rider for the Red Bull KTM team, achieved the advantage during this stage, after arriving in the city of Hail in 4 hours and 53 minutes, moving away from Frenchman Adrien Beveren, a rider for the Monster Energy Honda HRC team, who came in second place by 47 seconds, while Chilean Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo, a rider for the Hero Motorsports team, achieved third place, one minute and 31 seconds behind the leader.
Saudi driver Yasser Bin Saeedan, driving for the PPR team, won the fifth stage in the light desert vehicle category, “Challenger”, with a time of 4 hours, 51 minutes and 27 seconds. Dutch driver Paul Spierings, driving for the Rebellion & Spierings team, came in second place, 8 minutes and 22 seconds behind. Qatari driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, driving for the Nasser Racing team, achieved third place, 8 minutes and 52 seconds behind the first-place driver.
In the lightweight desert vehicle category “SSV”, Chilean Francisco Lopez Contardo, driver of the “Can-M Factory” team, achieved first place, with a time of 5 hours, 2 minutes and 26 seconds, while American Brock Heger, driver of the “Sebastian Loeb Racing” team, won second place, 20 minutes and 48 seconds behind, followed by his teammate, Frenchman Xavier de Soultrait, 20 minutes and 51 seconds behind.
Czech driver Martin Macek of the MM Technology team dominated the truck category, securing first place with a time of 5 hours, 1 minute, and 53 seconds. He was followed by his Dutch teammate Kees Koolen, 18 minutes and 42 seconds behind, while Dutch driver Mitchell van den Brink of the EuroRally Sport team finished third, 39 minutes and 37 seconds behind the leader.
The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia competitions will be temporarily suspended tomorrow, Friday, as the competitors will enjoy a day of rest, with the competitions resuming on Saturday, January 11, 2025, with the start of the sixth stage, which will start from the city of Hail and end in the governorate of Dawadmi, with a distance of 829 km, of which 605 km are for the timed special stage.
Sports
Rodgers: Proud of Al-Qadisiyah and our goal is to compete in the Roshan League
Al-Qadisiyah coach Brendan Rodgers expressed his pride in his team's performance after the victory over Al-Hazm, stressing that the team has great ambitions to compete in the Saudi Professional League.
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.
Sports
Rodgers: Proud of Al-Qadisiyah and our goal is to continue winning in the Roshan League
Al-Qadisiyah coach Brendan Rodgers expressed his pride in his team's performance after the 5-1 victory over Al-Hazm, stressing that the team has an attacking mentality and that there is still a long way to go to achieve the goals.
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.".
Sports
Al-Ittihad renews defender Hassan Kadash's contract until 2028 | Saudi League News
Al-Ittihad Club officially announced the renewal of the contract of international defender Hassan Kadash until 2028, in a move to enhance the stability of the team and compete in the Roshan League and continental championships.
Al-Ittihad Club, the Saudi Professional League champions, announced a significant strategic move to bolster the stability of their first football team by renewing the contract of their international defender, Hassan Kadash, for an additional four years, extending his contract until the summer of 2028. The official announcement was made via the club's social media accounts, specifically the "X" platform, where a video was posted showcasing Kadash's most prominent moments and strong performances in the "Dean's" jersey, concluding with the announcement of the renewal, which was widely welcomed by the club's fans.
Background of the deal and the player's career
Hassan Kadash, who boasts extensive experience in Saudi football, joined Al-Ittihad in the summer transfer window of 2023 from Al-Taawoun. His move came at a time when the Saudi league was experiencing a historic boom, attracting top international stars. His arrival coincided with the signing of global icons like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Fabinho. Despite this constellation of stars, Kadash quickly proved his worth, securing a regular starting position in the team's defense and delivering consistent, outstanding performances that made him a key player for the coaching staff.
The importance of renewal and its expected impact
Renewing Kadesh's contract is of paramount importance to Al-Ittihad on several levels. Domestically, this decision guarantees stability in the center-back position for years to come, which is vital for competing strongly in the Saudi Professional League and the King's Cup. It also reflects the administration's vision of building a well-rounded team that combines international experience with outstanding local talent, aligning with the strategy for developing Saudi football. Continentally, having a defender with Kadesh's experience is essential in the AFC Champions League, where continental competitions demand players with tactical maturity and the ability to handle high pressure.
This renewal comes at a time when the club is striving to improve its position in the league standings, where the team currently occupies a place that falls short of its fans' aspirations. This decision is expected to provide a morale boost to the team and its players, and underscores the management's confidence in the current sporting project and its ability to return to competing for all titles in the near future.
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