Football Reformation: Towards Saudi Nationalism
Who in the right mind would neglect the fact that a local team, in fierce competition with other local teams carry the same colors of the national team? Yes I am talking about the green and white. I am talking about Al- Ahli.
Until today, football matches and bitter defeats have caused more deaths and demonstrations than any factor in the Kingdom’s unique socio-political history. Sports aside, positive nationalistic pride in the Kingdom has been destructively neglected at a time where it was needed to be reinforced most.
Then there was him. The King of all Arabs. The reason why I am back home. My Beloved King Abdullah.
A man of intuitive foresight, he, as the old Arabic saying goes “Put his hand on the wound”. The wound: Saudi football. The symptoms: Sever necrosis of nationalism and the inhibition of social solidarity.
Think about it.
Al-Ahli team bearing the colors of the Saudi Flag ( White and green) is a long time arch enemy of Al-Ittihad team ( Yellow and black).
I still remember the jingles and songs we used to chant as kids. Ittihadis would accuse Al-Ahli fans for being sissies, algae, fungus ( because of the green) while they claim to be tigers , gold and petroleum.
On the other side of the fense, Ahli fans would say that Ittihadis are urine color, dirt, evil, asphalt etc. as apposed to the green alligators symbolizing rivers and grass, the color of paradise.
Fact: Green and white are the colors of the Saudi flag. Another fact: Family ties, political power struggles, franchises, business ventures and personal relationships are almost always based on team preferences.
Another team we dare not forget to consider : Al-hilal. Colors: Blue and white. AKA: “Al-Saud”. The royal family’s team of choice and the cronies way to untapped resources. Just like religious influence and extremism , this team witnessed an extraordinary presence during the last decade. So profound and biased that one could swear that the asphalt in the Riyadh roads had a shade of blue, All depended on the mood of the royals, everything was blue. Road signs, sport channel microphones, government forms. Even Saudia Airlines logo supposedly green and white was changed to blue over night.
Al-Hilal’s rival is a fourth dominant team called Al-Nasr. Similar to Al-Ahli in principles and financial predicament, it is not a surprise that Al- Ahli fans root for Al-Nasr when they play against Hilal.
A brief background on the Saudi teams:
Al- ittihad: Literally translated as the Union. The majority of masses supports this team. With Jeddah being a haven for immigrants and residents hailing from different nations. Most supporters are young. It is no surprise that the Ittihad draws passionate strength from the western region. Al-Ittihad’s greatest supporter is a business who worked his way to the top. Al-bilawy is a multi millionaire who made his fortune dominating the 700 number. ( Access to Satellite TV callers and viewers). The team occasionally hires foreign players for tens of millions to play in significant matches in which they win and go home.
Al-Ahli: A Nationalistic team. Capitlizes on the local talents.Started as a club for kids initiating the football sport from Africa. The Ahli has talented players and seldomely hires foreign players to play in their matches. Baby boomers and middle aged fans who lived through King Khaled’s ( before Fahad) Oil and economy boom remain loyal to this team. Upper class society has been known to support this team yet their financial support is limited due to their adherence to their nationalistic-long term goals. Al-Ahli and Ittihad are rivals. The last decade witnessed a slum in the history of Al-Ahli with the big financial backups of Al-ittihad and Al-Hilal.
Al- Ahli’s supporters are dispersed through out the kingdom.
Al-Hilal: The Royal family’s pet team. A select few support this team due to the political and social implications of supporting this team. Based mainly in Riydh where the biggest stadium was built to host national games. The Stadium ironically accommodates more than the population of Riyadh. While the Jeddah stadium can’t accommodate one tenth of football goers in Jeddah. Eventhough the presence of Al-Hilal supporters is not that much felt in everyday life. The Royal preference feeds its existence.
Al-Nasr:
If the rival of the most funded Ittihad is Al-Ahli in the western region, the Rival of Al-Hilal is al Nasr. A Royal family rogue and a survivor, Al- Nasr’s Mascot is a..
It should be interesting to follow the teams growth now that the Kingdom is taking a new approach in sports and balanced nationalistic development.
Political sentiments were once strongly associated with football teams. ( only in saudi Arabia). This only contributed to social stratification and rebellion. The status quo reflected in sports.
Al-Ahli jumpstarted step forward in national Identity. The team bearing their new colors. Green, White and tonight Grey. The white and green not to be together in one plane so as not to indicate any association with the national team. Grey and white, Green and Grey. When Al Ahli plays it doesn’t mean that Saudi plays. It means Al-Ahli plays.
The time has come to put our differences aside. With every team having strengths and weaknesses each team glows in pride with it’s individuality. It is from these difference that we as Saudi draw our strengths. Unity in diversity. No longer are we divided to be conquered. We are divided to enhance our strengths. To work together for a better national team. The Ittihad with its fierce passion and enthusiastic fans. The Ahli with it’s nationalistic principles and strong resistance and patience and the Hilal with a reassuring hand that the New Saudi is from the people, by the people and for the people.
Whether you are an Ittihadi or a Hilali you won’t have to unconsciously hold contempt for the Saudi national team. We are all Saudis now. Green and White. We are new. The king is new. The government is new. Islam is new.
