To add my own fuel to the sportswashing bandwagon, here are a bunch of questions to figure out who the sell-outs will be running rings round over the next year.
Questions
Last champions in the 1986-1987 season, which Saudi Pro League team caught attention when they managed to entice Steven Gerrard as manager in 2023, closely followed by Jordan Henderson? Their Arabic name means ‘the agreement’ and they are based in the city of Dammam on the Persian Gulf.
AL-ETTIFAQ
A four-time winner of the AFC Champions League and current record holder for the most league titles in Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh-based team completed the scalp of signing Neymar in 2023? Their team name refers to the crescent moon, which marks the start of a new month in the Islamic calendar.
AL-HILAL
Overturning a 3-1 home defeat to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma with a 5-0 victory on South Korean soil to win the 2004 AFC Champions League, which Jeddah-based team went on to successfully defend that title against UAE team Al-Ain? With a name translating as ‘the union’, Karim Benzema signed for them in 2023 as they attempt to defend their title.
AL-ITTIHAD
Relegated for the first time in the 2021-22 season, which three-time champions with a name meaning ‘the national’ immediately bounced back to the top flight? They hold the record for victories in the King Cup and play their home matches in Jeddah.
AL-AHLI
Their first ever victory in the King Cup coming in 2022, which team based in Al Majma’ah in the central Sudair region plays in orange shirts? Their name seems to have multiple meanings, but my favourite is ‘the fragrant one’, with this being used for the Lebanese city of Tripoli thanks to the orange trees that surrounded it.
AL-FAYHA
Named for an ancient Arab tribe, Al-Tai are a Saudi Pro League club that hail from which large city in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, with one of the country’s 13 provinces going by the same name?
HA’IL
Nice and simply named, Al-Riyadh’s best finish in the Saudi top flight was second in 1993-94. What feature gives the Saudi Arabian capital its name?
GARDENS
Not to be confused with an Islamic terrorist group, which club from Riyadh have been champions of the Saudi league six times, most recently in 2011-12? Their team name refers to ‘Youth’.
AL-SHABAB
King Cup winners in 2019, which team with a name meaning ‘co-operation’ play their home games in Buraidah, the largest city in the north-central province of Qassim?
AL-TAAWOUN
Their name meaning ‘conquest’, something they only successfully managed in the 2012-13 season, which team that should not be confused with a well known political party managed to get Slaven Bilić to manage them in 2023?
AL-FATEH
In for a baptism of fire as 2023 is their first season in the top flight, Al-Okhdood play their home games not in a ‘ditch’ as their name might indicate, but in which city near the Yemeni border? This is one of the fastest growing cities in Saudi Arabia, now having a population of over 500,000.
NAJRAN
Striking fear into the opposition by having a name that means ‘victory’, which nine-time Saudi champions fell to an opening day defeat in the 2023 Saudi Pro League despite having added both Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané to their roster?
AL-NASSR
Their last major trophy being the King Cup in 1966, in which Saudi Arabian city do Al-Wehda play, a team whose name means ‘unity’ and have a mean looking black horse on their club logo?
MECCA
Home to one of the two Saudi Pro League teams not to use ‘Al’ as a prefix for the 2023-24 season, which city lies in the Asir Mountains over 2,000 metres above sea level? This has resulted in this southern city being given the nickname ‘Bride of the Mountain’.
ABHA
Having a name which means ‘gulf’, which Saudi Pro League team play in the city of Saihat, unsurprisingly this lying on the Persian Gulf?
AL-KHALEEJ
Their name meaning ‘determination’, which presumably they’ll need a lot of if they are to be successful in the 2023-24 season, which Saudi Pro League team play in the Qassim province city of Ar Rass?
AL-HAZEM
Sharing a stadium with Al-Taawoun, which Buraida team have a name that indicates they are ‘pioneers’, perhaps apt because they were the first club in the Qassim region?
AL-RAED
Clearly failing to get the memo as they’re the only team in the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League not to begin with the letter A, which club that come from Khamis Mushayt in the south are named for a nearby mountain?
DAMAC
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