Ittihad wants negotiations
over Rabbo put off
l Al-Ittihad has requested Egyptian Ismaili Club to postpone negotiations for extending the temporary transfer or buyout of Egyptian football player Hosni Abd Rabbo until the end of Ittihad's two last-16 matches in the Asian Champions League that are to be played by the end of May.
Ittihad management said the aim was to keep the player focused. The Egyptian club had stated earlier the deal's value would not be less than $1.4 million.
Shamrani makes initial list
of World Cup refs
l The FIFA Referees Committee has named Saudi assistant referee Badr Al-Shamrani to the initial candidates list of referees for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. International referee Khaleel Jalal was selected earlier as on-field referee. The Saudi referee team will include an assistant referee from Oman. Al-Shamrani has officiated at international and Asian championships. He started as a referee in 2001 and obtained the international badge in 2010.
Best players honored
with cash prizes
l The Saudi Sport Channel distributed its third Season Stars awards at King Fahd Cultural Center on Saturday. Those honored as best players of the season in the different sports category this year included Al-Ahli handball player Manaf Aal Saed, Al-Fatah basketball player Muhammad Al-Saqr, Al-Ahli volleyball player Ali Al-Wadei and Al-Ahli water polo player Ahmad Al-Shammari. In addition Al-Hilal Premier League football team’s player Salem Al-Dawsari received the award of the new category of Most Promising Player. Each received SR30,000. In the category of football, Waleed Abdullah of Al-Shabab received the Best Goalkeeper’s award and Ittihad’s Osama Al-Muwallad the Best Defender award. Ahli’s Tayseer Al-Jasem was selected as Best Midfielder. Each received SR50, 000. Naser Al-Shamrani of Al-Shabab received both Best Attacker and Best Player of the season and received SR150, 000.
Hilal team director
suspended, fined
l The Saudi Football Federation’s Competitions and Fair Play Committee on Sunday suspended Hilal football team’s director for one game and fined him SR4,000 for repeatedly objecting the referee’s decisions during his team’s second-leg match against Ahli in the King’s Cup of Champions in Jeddah on Friday.
Training camp for Saudi
under-17 national football team
l On Saturday the Saudi under-17 national football team has started its five-day training camp in the Eastern Province in preparation for the Asia Cup finals in Iran.
Saudi Arabia’s group includes titleholder North Korea, South Korea and Japan.
“Eastern-Asian teams are known for their good planning and early preparations, which is the method that is now being followed by the Saudi national teams administration,” said Saudi team coach Omar Bakhashwain, adding the team would play several friendly matches.
Swimming training program
l A 6-week swimming training program for children with Down’s Syndrome was launched on Sunday at the Royal Guard Camp’s sport hall in Riyadh. The program is organized by Royal Guard Command in cooperation with the Saudi Down’s Syndrome Charitable Association and is supervised by coach Hasan Al-Hamdan and a number of the Royal Guard coaches. The training is gradual with the first week to include entertainment and activities to get the children used in the swimming pools.
— Compiled by Naif Al-Turki
KINGDOM ROUNDUP
