ACTUALITE |
24.05.2002
Saudi Al-Johar on defensive following World Cup announcement
CHOFU
Talking to leading daily paper Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia national team manager Nasser Al-Johar made it clear that the exclusion of central defender Ahmed Khalil into his World Cup squad "was only due to the handful of games he played for his club Al-Hilal this season.
"At this stage of the football game, I only need accomplished players at club level, genuinely committed to serve the national team when it mattes most," added the manager.
"Undeniably, he is one of the best performers in his position in domestic competitions over the last three years, still, his exclusion from Al-Hilal in most stages this season had a negative impact on his overall rounding."
Referring to the other three ousted players from the World Cup list, Al-Johar made it clear "keeper Mansour Al-Najayi is a fabulous prospect for the future, but he surely lacks experience at international level.
"He enjoyed a blistering season with Al-Ahly, rattling in four trophies at both local and regional levels, but with FIFA`s quota of 3 keepers amongst the 23-player squad, I had to content with Al-Deayyea, Al-Khojali and Zayed, all of them at their mercurial best at this stage of the preparation program for the finals."
As for prolific striker Abdullah Al-Sheehan, Al-Johar revealed that "only his recurring injury has deprived him from joining the lads in the finals. He was our top scorer in throughout the qualifiers and I have to admit his inclusion should have done for us a world of good at the attacking level."
"Left-sided attacking midfielder Saleh Al-Mohammadi was ousted after a fierce competition with Mohamed Al-Shalhoub," said the manager, "as both players operate in the very same position.
"I have opted for Al-Shalhoub because he can provide us with that vital extra-dimension in attack at crucial stages of any game. The player is one of the most gifted outfits throughout Asia, and given the space to express himself in the finals, he will surely emerge in flying colours," concluded the manager.
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Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
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