Coach addressed the public’s passion for the game and respect
• Photo: Al Khaleej/Instagram
The third and final day of the Thinkin Football Summit started with a panel dedicated to analyzing the revolution that is being witnessed in Saudi Arabian football and was attended, via video conference, by coaches Pedro Emanuel and Luís Castro and the winger Fábio Martins.
First-person experiences about the evolution of the phenomenon and what the foundations of sustainability are, in the certainty that all the guests assumed the high financial investment as the great argument for this explosion, but also defended the competitiveness of the event and the passionate respect of the public as the main arguments for maintaining the intended projection.
Pedro Emanuel, coach of Al Khaleej:
Those who went to Saudi Arabia only went for one reason. What did you find, what is the Saudi League and the evolution that has occurred?
“I’ve been here since 2018 and I felt the evolution. The initial impact was huge compared to what I was used to, but the mentality wasn’t evolving. That’s the big difference. Not only the high investment, but above all the mentality and organization. Since 2018, working conditions have been much better. Saudi Arabia wants to open up to the world and it is true that the evolution abroad is more visible with the arrival of great players. I believe that this season will be a zero year for the stipulated plan.”
Can the League be one of the best in the world?
“I want to start with the Saudi player. He cannot have the mentality he had 10 years ago. The demands are higher and they are aware of that. Before there were five foreigners, now the limit is eight. This change is also important for the local player. There is a simple but genuine passion from everyone. I went to watch a game of our city’s rival and their fans were happy to have us there among them. It’s a different passionate way of living. This evolution is to continue and my continuity also has a lot to do with the higher demands. I believe that people may be somewhat disappointed with the competitiveness, but it is necessary to clarify that the average temperature at 9 pm is 36 degrees and with 70 per cent of humidity. We have games with 105 and 110 minutes. It is a context of a complicated nature. Some of these conditions are important for the public to be aware that the pace is not as high as intended. The month of August in Saudi Arabia is not an easy context, but I believe that with the adaptation to evolution will be noticeable.
They may say I’m being hypocritical, but the passion is genuine and the respect is transversal. I feel like I have a respected image. I’m always welcomed anywhere and that’s what football is. Fierce passion, but without ever showing the necessary respect and these conditions are very present here. Regardless of what the prince of Saudi Arabia may say, I can say that everything I have at my disposal was provided by him. The transformation is global at all levels of society. Whether it will be the desired success only the future will tell, but the conditions are being created and that is our mission. Help development with our experience and level of demand. This is just the beginning and the future in Saudi Arabia.”
What is the next step towards improving Saudi football?
“The sustainability of this project requires consistency that the Government wants to ensure. The path is to make the Saudi League one of the best in the world and I believe it will be in the coming years. The more countries that watch this championship, the better and more consistent the development will be of football.”
By Pedro Malacó
2023-09-09 10:35:25
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