Saleh Fareed Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — As the Abdul Latif Jameel football league resumed action last weekend, Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Nowaiser, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Professional League, said Tuesday that football in Saudi Arabia is finally on the right path. Al-Nowaiser said: “Sponsors have always played an important role in the development of football, especially these days, when the game has become the most popular sport in the world. We are proud of partnering corporations and national institutions that contribute to the development of the beautiful game and provide the right support for us to reach the highest degree of progress. “We take this opportunity to thank Abdul Latif Jameel Company for taking the time to contribute and play a major role in the development of Saudi football. “Top officials of Saudi Football Federation, Saudi Pro League and Abdul Latif Jameel Company, the official sponsors of the Saudi Professional League 2013, have restructured their priorities, worked towards sustaining a growing match-day fan base and are significantly contributing towards raising the profile at the grassroots levels,” he added. He was speaking at the press conference with Adel Ezzat, Managing Director of Marketing at ALJ, and Dr. Ibrahim Badawood, Managing Director, in attendance. Adel Ezzat said: “We have some exciting plans for the season ahead and look forward to working closely with Saudi Pro League to ensure the sponsorship benefits everybody, and in particular the fans across the Kingdom through new consumer-focused initiatives.” Highlighting the plans Abdul Latif Jameel has for the new season, he said: “Our sponsorship will help promote the beautiful game in Saudi Arabia and grow its appeal amongst various audiences.” Ezzat added: “The Saudi Football League sponsorship demonstrates our intent to share in the passion of football fans throughout the Kingdom. Supporting football is becoming our long-term strategy as we believe in the future of Saudi youth and their development through football.” Dr. Ibrahim Badawood, Managing Director, Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, pointed out that the initiatives through sport is a relatively new and exciting approach for the company but they are looking forward to expand their social responsibility with Saudi football fans. “With this sponsorship our corporate social responsibility programs continue to provide assistance to young Saudis but this time in a different sector which sports,” he said. He noted that under the sponsorship, ALJ will have the obligation of determining the professions in which job opportunities should be provided for young Saudis in football. Badawood was confident that the sport industry, like other sectors, would help create more job opportunities for Saudis. “Through our initiatives we will create new jobs for Saudi youth within the premises of football stadiums in every city and we will also give the chance for young entrepreneurs, craftsmen and productive families to display their products in every stadium free of charge” he said. Al-Nowaiser told the media: “Hopefully, it'll be the start of another dramatic season of the Saudi Football League. With new managers, new players and new teams, this season will surely be an exciting, competitive and a highly anticipated one.”
