Saudi football mourns death of Al-Ahli legend Amin Dabo

Dabo is saluted by fans after Al-Ahli won the King Cup 1983. (Supplied)

• Known for his intelligence and physicality on the pitch, Dabo rose to stardom in the early 1970s playing for the Ismaily Sporting Club in Egypt

JEDDAH: The Saudi football community was in mourning on Wednesday after legendary former Al-Ahli captain Amin “The Fox” Dabo died after a brief illness. He was 69.
In addition to his impressive career on the pitch, Dabo’s legacy includes thousands of young Saudi footballers he coached, and the example he set of what can be achieved against the odds through perseverance and hard work.
Known for his intelligence and physicality on the pitch, Dabo rose to stardom in the early 1970s playing for the Ismaily Sporting Club in Egypt. His skills were obvious and he became a favorite of fans across the region.
He moved to Saudi Arabia when he signed for Al-Ahli in 1976, and played there until his retirement in 1984. During his time there the team were crowned Saudi Professional League champions twice and won the King Cup four times. He scored about 250 career goals.
A native of Senegal, Dabo was awarded Saudi citizenship in recognition of his exceptional talent and achievements with Al-Ahli. He played for the Saudi national team 12 times, scoring three goals.
He was mocked and dismissed as a youngster because of his diminutive size, but this failed to diminish his love of the game and his ability shone through. After his retirement from playing, he coached thousands of young Saudis, and worked as a media pundit and analyst.
His former club posted on social media: “Al-Ahli legend is gone #AminDabo.”