JEDDAH, 19 April 2008 — After qualifying for the 21st World Men’s Handball Championship to be held Jan. 18 to Feb. 1, 2009 in Croatia for the fifth time and with the new federation elections, Saudi handballers believe they have a case to become professional players with fixed salaries. Problem is, will the Saudi Handball Federation listen.
“We have big hopes because the new members had been close to us ever since we played and knew how much we give of our strength to handball. They simply love the game and want it to progress,” said 30-year-old Bandar Al-Harbi during the interview at the Arab News office.
That is why former players and now Saudi national team administrators Abdulrahman Aid and Hani Hilal suggested that during our training camp for the World Cup the athletes should receive monthly salaries to encourage them from the budget given by the sponsoring company, according to Al-Harbi. Best Asian handball goalkeeper Manaf Al-Saeed agreed and said they had long been knocking on the federation doors to become professionals but never go a reply why they could not.
Al-Saeed said they had been considering to seek audience with Prince Sultan ibn Fahd, President of the Saudi Youth Welfare or his deputy Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal, but that it has to be done properly and through their supervisors who would take it to the president of the federation, and from there to the Youth Welfare.
“We missed a lot of chances of improving, we do care about our country but we need something to motivate us to keep on going. These chances would allow us to improve and benefit even the younger generations who look up to us. We see many other athletes in other countries that we surpass in performance but are treated way better than us,” said the 31-year-old captain of the Saudi national team Al-Saeed.
The players explained, their achievements and especially their qualification to the World Cup for the fifth time is a strong proof the game and the players are improving.
“They have to take handball seriously from now on because it is rising in Saudi Arabia and attracting the youth,” said Al-Saeed.
If these youths did not see a future for the athletes, he said, they might just let go of it.
“That is why many quit handball after reaching the first division teams, they found no future and preferred to study and work instead of staying until they get rewarded with a championship crown,” said Al-Harbi.
Also, the athletes take their training camps only halfheartedly and the whole team does not show up always. They could not be forced to because they do not have playing contracts and hence don’t get paid which makes it even difficult for the coach. However, if these athletes became professionals they will be obliged to attend and the level of the training and excitement would for certain increase, said Al-Saeed.
Of their World Cup participation, Al-Harbi said, they have something huge to look forward to. “We managed to perform well and beat impressive national teams like Argentina before, hence we hope we do better this year.”
Al-Harbi said being in the World Cup itself is a big boost to the athletes to train even harder to meet world-class performances and “we will try to be doing that for up to six months.”
“Who knows if we played well we might get more professional offers,” said Al-Saeed. The handball duo added, they received an invitation to train in Hungary due to their performance, “and we really appreciate that our efforts are noticed,” said Al-Harbi.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Handball League resumes next Wednesday after a two weeks delay.
The players pointed out the delay is an issue that has to be dealt with as it robs them the chance to play on loan for a few days with other Gulf teams.
