In a strategic move aimed at elevating sports training in Saudi Arabia to world-class standards, Mahd Sports Academy signed a significant memorandum of understanding with GPS Global Business Services, the official distributor of Skills Lab solutions within the Kingdom. This agreement comes as part of the academy's ongoing efforts to enhance the development of athletic talent and improve the technical and physical performance of Saudi athletes by integrating modern technology into training programs.

The memorandum of understanding primarily aims to maximize the use of Skills Lab's advanced technologies to support Mahd Academy's long-term development plans. This collaboration will provide players and coaches with the opportunity to gain firsthand experience using the latest sports performance measurement and analysis systems, effectively contributing to improved training quality and more accurate technical decisions based on data and digital analytics, rather than relying solely on traditional methods.

Partnership details and field visits

The agreement includes implementation provisions for regular field visits by Mahd Academy talents and coaches to Skills Lab's headquarters in Austria. These visits aim to enable national talents to gain firsthand experience of the latest global practices and technologies in sports performance analysis and development. Furthermore, comprehensive technical and mental assessments of the players will be conducted at Skills Lab's state-of-the-art facilities, adhering to the highest professional standards adopted by major European clubs.

National context and the importance of the academy

Mahd Sports Academy is a strategic national project aimed at discovering and developing sporting talent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from a young age, in line with the goals of Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program. Since its inception, the academy has strived to bridge the gap in developing Saudi sports champions by providing a comprehensive professional environment. This partnership underscores the academy's commitment to adopting the latest scientific methodologies, recognizing that athletic development is no longer solely based on innate talent, but has become a science grounded in technology and rigorous performance analysis.

Expected impact and future of Saudi talent

This partnership is expected to enhance the operational readiness of Mahd Academy to utilize the latest performance analysis technologies, supporting its ambitious goals of developing a new generation of talented players capable of competing at the regional and international levels. Integrating technological solutions like Skills Lab, which focuses on cognitive and skill-based aspects, will help produce players with superior field intelligence and mental agility, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to implementing global best practices in the sports industry and exporting talent.

Amidst intensive preparations for the crucial match of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, Frenchman Christophe Galtier, manager of NEOM FC, made some fiery statements reflecting the high level of anticipation surrounding the upcoming clash against Al-Qadisiyah FC. This match comes at a critical juncture in the season, as clubs strive to improve their positions in the standings, adding a fierce competitive edge to the encounter.

During the pre-match press conference, Galtier emphasized that facing Al-Qadisiyah is unlike any other league match, describing the opponent as possessing the qualities of "European clubs." The veteran French coach explained that this description stems from the high quality of Al-Qadisiyah's players, both physically and tactically, in addition to their formidable attacking arsenal.

In his technical analysis, the Neom coach pointed to Al-Qadisiyah's formidable attacking statistics, saying, "We are facing a team whose strikers have scored 30 goals, a high scoring rate that reflects their exceptional effectiveness in front of goal. Therefore, the key to the match for us lies in maintaining the highest levels of defensive focus and mental fortitude throughout the ninety minutes." These statements underscore the significant development of the Saudi League, where teams now possess a level of technical quality comparable to international leagues, thus intensifying the competition every week.

Regarding the tactical options for the Neom squad, coach Galtier surprised fans with a promising development concerning veteran captain Salman Al-Faraj. He hinted at the possibility of changing Al-Faraj's position and assigning him advanced attacking roles, explaining, "Salman Al-Faraj could have a pivotal role playing behind the strikers." This move is seen as an investment in Al-Faraj's extensive experience and keen vision of the field, as Galtier seeks to utilize his playmaking abilities and his capacity to break down the opponent's defensive formations from deep positions.

The conference was not without bad news for Neom fans, as Galtier confirmed the absence of Algerian star Said Benrahma from the match due to injury, without revealing precise details about the duration of the absence, but he expressed complete confidence in the ability of the substitutes to compensate for this deficiency and provide the required addition.

Galtier concluded by addressing the atmosphere of playing during the holy month of Ramadan, emphasizing his complete respect for religious observances and their impact on the players' daily schedules. He stressed the need to manage both physical and mental aspects intelligently to ensure optimal performance despite the challenges of fasting. This match is considered a true test of NEOM's ambitions this season and an opportunity to prove themselves against one of the league's strongest teams.

Senegalese international Elman Ndiaye , the star striker of Everton, has entered the circle of interest of the English club Manchester United , as one of the most prominent options to strengthen the front line at Old Trafford, coinciding with the increasing reports linking Englishman Marcus Rashford with a move to the Spanish club Barcelona in a final deal expected.

According to the transfer news website CaughtOffside, Manchester United have identified Ndiaye as a strategic alternative to fill the potential void left by Rashford's departure. These moves come as United look to inject new blood into the squad and closely monitor Rashford's future, whose performances have been inconsistent in recent seasons, making his departure a possibility.

The context of Manchester United's transformation

This news comes at a time when Manchester United is undergoing a comprehensive sporting restructuring, with the club's new sporting management seeking dynamic and developmental players – qualities that the Senegalese star possesses. The search for attacking options is part of the club's strategy to return to competing for domestic and continental titles, especially since the winger and second striker positions require players with high technical and physical attributes suited to the intensity of the Premier League.

Obstacles to the deal

Despite Manchester United's serious interest, signing Eliamin Ndiaye will not be easy. The player is under a long-term contract with Everton, which runs for three more seasons, having joined in 2024 from French club Marseille. This contractual situation gives Everton the upper hand in any potential negotiations, and they are expected to demand a substantial fee for one of their key players, especially given the club's ongoing struggle to establish itself in the Premier League.

Ndiaye's career and statements

For his part, Eliamin Ndiaye dealt shrewdly with the rumors surrounding his future, stating, "When clubs the size of Manchester United show interest in you, it means you're doing a good job." This statement reflects the player's self-confidence and focus on delivering his best performance.

It is worth noting that Ndiaye has a distinguished professional career, having previously shone with Sheffield United and contributed to their promotion, before having an experience with Olympique Marseille, before returning to England through Everton, where he continues to deliver strong performances that have made him the focus of attention for major European clubs.