Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Dem don kick off the Saudi Pro League season, and e no be small matter. As di league dey blossom, American investors don shine their eye well-well as dem bring plenty money join di game. This season, watch out for Cristiano Ronaldo, wey fit talk say Saudi Pro League na one of di best five leagues for di world. Na wah!
But you sabi as e be – Ronaldo no dey always carry di whole attention. We get some young clubs wey don benefit from di American money wey dey flow now. Al-Kholood, di only top-tier club wey don gree enjoy foreign investment from Harburg Group, wey be operated by Ben Harburg. Di Saudi Ministry of Sports don announce say three clubs don turn private through public offering. Na small bubba e be for us!
Al-Kholood don face plenty wahala late last year wen dem relegated, but dem bounce back in 2024 and finish 9th last season, thanks to Myziane Maolida wey bang 15 goals and di Nigerian defensive wall, William Troost-Ekong. As dem dey move under di new management, dem don bring in English manager Des Buckingham from di City Football Group. Now e go try build dis team up over time.
Di league dey fire up, and of course, we fit see di big five clash – Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr (wey get Ronaldo), Al-Hilal, and Al-Qadsiah. Al-Ittihad wey be di champions last season dey lead di pack, led by stars like Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté wey sabi ball pass. Di competition go hot like pepper soup!
As di League dey reorganize itself, dem don dey shift from just recruiting foreign stars to develop local talents. Dem don also change di setup so clubs fit gree bring more young players and keep di average squad age down. Na wise move o, especially when dem want compete internationally.
Although many fans dey rush to watch Ronaldo, e get gabs wen di attendance no fit match di hype. Some fans talk say organizers go say dem get 16,000 people for di match, but di reality na around 5,000 to 6,000 actual face wey show up. Na wetin happen wen people dey commute to watch di big names only.
Saudi football dey push hard to become di top brand for Asia, and di signs dey clear. Di Chinese Super League don waka comot from di limelight, but di Saudi league dey grow like weed since dem start to bring in excited investors and sponsors. Dem don dey form different partnerships and even dey broadcast di league reach over 180 countries. No be joke o for dis part!
Di route dey clear for Saudi Pro League to crown di No. 1 club in Asia, and if dem fit dominate di continental competitions, e go help shine di league as di football home outside Europe. With di help of Ronaldo and di smart moves wey di new management dey dey carry out, one thing sure: no be only palm wine dey sweet, dis Saudi football go sweet well.
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