In a rapidly developing situation within the southern club, the board of directors of Damac FC reached a final and official agreement with Portuguese coach Armando Evangelista to mutually terminate his contract. This decision comes as part of the club's efforts to restructure the first team's technical staff and inject new blood into the coaching team to ensure improved results in the remaining matches of the season.

A source close to the Portuguese coach confirmed the news to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, explaining the details of the separation: "Damac FC terminated its contract with Armando Evangelista by mutual consent in recent hours." The source emphasized a crucial point regarding the coach's reputation and relationship with the club, stating that "the rumors circulating about his dismissal are untrue. A friendly agreement was reached, and the matter was resolved professionally and in a manner befitting both parties.".

Carille... the expert choice in the Roshan League

Meanwhile, coinciding with Evangelista's departure, sources from "Al-Midan Al-Riyadi" revealed that Damac's management moved quickly to secure a replacement. Reports indicate an agreement has been reached with Brazilian coach Fabio Carille to take over the technical direction. Carille is a very familiar name in Saudi football, possessing extensive experience and a well-established track record from his previous stints managing major clubs such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Wehda. This history makes him a logical and safe choice for Damac's management, given his thorough understanding of the Saudi Professional League and the nature of Saudi players, thus minimizing the adaptation period that any new coach from outside the region might require.

The context of the competition and the challenges of the next round

This tactical change comes at a crucial time in the Roshan Professional League, where the competition is fierce across all positions. Mid-table clubs, including Damac, are striving to secure their places and avoid relegation, which explains the swift administrative action taken to rectify any dips in performance.

The team faces an immediate challenge to test the players' understanding of this new phase, as Damac prepares to meet Al-Taawoun in a tough match in the 22nd round of the competition. The match is scheduled for Friday evening, and all eyes will be on the players' reaction and how the new or interim coaching staff deals with the strength of Al-Taawoun, who have been performing impressively this season.

The curtain fell this Tuesday evening on the competitions of the twenty-first (21) round of the current season of the Yellow League for First Division clubs, with the holding of two matches that were characterized by competitiveness and excitement, as the teams continued their relentless pursuit to improve their positions in the standings as the competition enters its decisive stages.

Al-Anwar secures a valuable victory in the Central Derby

In the first match, Al-Anwar capitalized on home advantage to secure a crucial 2-1 victory over Jeddah. The first half was characterized by tactical caution from both sides, before the match came alive in the second half. Abdulaziz Damdam the scoring for Al-Anwar after 51 minutes, signaling the home team's intention to claim all three points.

The visitors' response was swift, with Mohammed Al-Saiari equalizing for Jeddah in the 62nd minute, bringing the game back to square one. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, professional player Marlon Santos in the 71st minute, snatching a precious winning goal for Al-Anwar and giving his team a huge morale boost.

With this result, Al Anwar team’s tally jumped to (26) points, occupying the tenth position in the Yellow League standings, giving it relative stability in the safe zone, while Jeddah team’s tally froze at (27) points, dropping to ninth place, which ignites the competition in the middle of the table.

Excitement until the final minutes between Al-Wahda and Al-Faisaly

In the second match, which was characterized by an open, attacking style, Al Wahda was held to a 2-2 draw by their stubborn visitors, Al Faisaly. Al Faisaly took an early lead through Romell Kioto after 27 minutes, but Al Wahda responded quickly and decisively through Demba Diallo, who scored the equalizer in the 31st minute.

In the second half, Al Wahda continued their attacking pressure, with Fahad Al Talib scoring the opening goal in the 69th minute, bringing the team closer to securing the points. However, Al Faisaly refused to give up, and their player, Andrew Morato , snatched a dramatic equalizer in the 80th minute, resulting in a draw between the two teams.

This draw raised Al-Faisaly’s points to (33) in seventh place, keeping their hopes alive for competing for the top positions, while Al-Wahda’s points reached (23) in thirteenth place, a position that requires the team to double its efforts in the coming rounds to move away from the danger zones.

The importance of the round and its impact on the competition

These results are of paramount importance in the context of the fierce competition in the Yellow League this season. With the completion of matchday 21, the contours of the competition are becoming clearer, both in the race for promotion to the Roshan Professional League and in the battle to avoid relegation. The close points standings among mid-table teams (such as Jeddah and Al-Anwar) highlight the intensity of the competition, where any slip-up could drastically alter the league table.

The draw between Al-Faisaly and Al-Wahda reflects the difficulty of predicting match results, as established teams like Al-Faisaly strive to return to their rightful place among the elite, while Al-Wahda fights to get back on track. These rounds are crucial turning points that will determine the fate of the teams at the end of the season, increasing the psychological and technical pressure on players and coaching staff in the coming weeks.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is preparing to become the focus of attention for individual sports enthusiasts, as it hosts the PSA 3K Squash Championship from February 12th to 14th. The highly anticipated tournament will take place at the Falcon Squash Club, with 16 professional players representing four Arab countries: Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, and the host nation, Saudi Arabia.

This tournament holds particular significance within the context of the Kingdom's significant sporting development, offering an ideal opportunity for Saudi players to gain international experience. Representing the Kingdom at this event are Mohammed Al-Nisfan and Salem Al-Mawlid, who aim to deliver a commendable performance reflecting the remarkable progress Saudi squash has recently made, and to earn ranking points that will improve their positions in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings.

Enhancing Riyadh's position as a global sports destination

Hosting this tournament is part of a broader strategy to diversify sporting events in Saudi Arabia, in line with the goals of Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program. Following the significant successes of hosting football, boxing, and Formula 1 championships, the focus is now shifting to enhancing infrastructure and public interest in Olympic and individual sports such as squash. PSA (Professional Squash Association) tournaments are the primary gateway for emerging players to enter the global professional arena, making hosting the 3K category a crucial foundational step in building a new generation of champions.

Official statements and future aspirations

In this regard, Dr. Adel Al-Aqili stressed the importance of Riyadh hosting this tournament, noting that the event represents an extension of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to support various sports and enhance its position as a leading destination for hosting major international tournaments.

Al-Aqili stated, “We welcome all players participating in the PSA 3K Squash Championship. We in Riyadh are delighted to host this sporting event, which brings together elite players from brotherly and friendly nations in a competitive atmosphere that reflects the spirit of sport and its importance in strengthening relations between peoples.” He added, “We also emphasize our commitment to providing exceptional organization befitting the Kingdom’s stature and the rapid pace of sporting activity in Riyadh. We look forward to the championship being a successful milestone that contributes to the development of the game and motivates Saudi players to compete at the international level.”.

Regional competition and the evolution of the game

The tournament is expected to be fiercely competitive, especially with the participation of players from Egypt, the current world's top squash powerhouse, which will undoubtedly raise the technical level of the matches. The participation of countries like Kuwait and Oman is further evidence of the growing interest in this sport in the Gulf region. The tournament is part of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series and is generating considerable public anticipation. The matches are expected to be highly competitive over three days, contributing to the spread of the sport and attracting more players in the Kingdom.