Finally...

Man9oor - Remix Upload


I was fed the love of football ever since i was a child... i was even fed the racism of every team.. but when it came to our national team.. things where different...

Two incidents i shall never forget... 30th of January 2007.. & sometime in December 1996...

Yes.. although it wasn't khaleeji 18.. yet it was .. to me.. a turning point in the history of football...

Final Game... KSA vs UAE .. and that was the Asian Cup 1996.. now many of you won't even remember this time.. or many of you would be so young to remember...but everyone was on alert.. just like the few days that passed...

i remember we used to skip classes and sneak under the staircase and LISTEN to the games in school.. some where in Japan if i remember well.. so the timing was awkward.. but that day.. it wasn't .. it was late in the afternoon.. hopes and prayers where everywhere.. from everyone..

and we sat.. in front of the old panasonic tv.. a small screen yet we all sat facing it .. it felt like it was the biggest widest screen at that moment... and with every kick.. or attempt you'd hear ... i bet you know.. ;)

First half.. Second.. extra time.. and we all hoped it won't reach to the " golden goal" as they used to call it... yet it did... an attempt from UAE.. another from KSA and so forth.. until........ we lost..!




Think of it as a team who was able to reach the World Cup.. and we lost.. we didn't only loose the game.. yet we lost the spirits and the will to play... the team no longer became the one that amused us with every kick.. yes you know them.. Zuhair (el moshakis as they called him ) .. Eltalyani.. B5eet Saad.. 5mees Sa3d... Kojak: m7md 3li.. fahad 5mees.. those where players who rocked the stadium... believe me they did...

and history repeats itself...

over and over again..




Yes we won.. but after how many years of "no achievements" ... what did it take us to wake up after such a long time...



I look around me now after 11 years .. and see the excitement in all of those faces.. i remember how we where.. how our grannies prayed for the team... how they cried when we won... how they tell the kids today about a team that "once upon a time existed" ...



i look at the kids.. and wonder.. did we look the same.. for sure i know i didn't paint my face with all those reds and greens and black and white.. (unfortunately) .. but i remember the thrill we felt.. yes.. that same thrill that exists now.. with a bit more understanding of the rules..



my nephew asks me what does "tasalol" means..... my God.. once i asked my dad the same question.. i asked him what is a "fawal" .. what is " '6arbat jaza2 " !! History repeats itself .. with a different ending..





Look at the pictures of our Sheikhs and see their excitement.. isn't it worth all those years? i bet it does.... its a lesson in management.. once a proper leadership is found.. many successes would be accomplished..



Consider it a lesson in management.. a lesson in motivation from a leader and its effect on the employees.. consider it a lesson in recruitment... consider it a lesson team work.. many many lessons you could find..

Together they met.. together they shared one objective... together they fought for it..(if only they do that in politics) and together we enjoyed some of the best games.. with the best players from the best teams...

From the cleaner who cleaned the stadiums... to the electrician.. the the technician... to the organizers.. press... to the police in everywhere .. to the foreigners who cheered with love.. to every single citizen who shared a moment of happiness with us.. to the players of course.. not only our team.. but every single team who played.. and their supporters.. to the Sheikhs and their Highness... to that person who closes the light of the stadium after every game...

and if not for God .. all of this wouldn't have existed..



Thank You !



One last note.. many have criticized the organization committee... the media .. the stadiums.. somewhat everything.. to me.. at the end.. we as viewers seek a good game.. regardless the nationality... yes there where things that could have been avoided... but at the end .. Omani .. Emarati.. Saudi.. Kuwaiti .. Qatari .. Bahraini... Yemeni or Iraqi... we are brothers.. (n sisters) .. !

We'll meet in Oman... with better teams.. and better spirits inshallah..!!!





A Last Dot:
بلادي واحبها