Michael Emenalo, director of football at the Saudi Pro League, says the overall ambition of the competition is to attract all the world’s top players and become a league for exceptional players only within a “few short years”.
The revamped Saudi top-flight, currently one of the major storylines in football, kicked off on Friday following a summer of unprecedented investment, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, N’Golo Kante and Jordan Henderson now playing in the kingdom.
The league has publicly stated its aim to eventually rank as one of the world’s top-10 domestic football competitions.
Speaking on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 season, Emenalo said: “I would love to have Kylian Mbappe here. I would love to have Harry Kane here. The league would like to have all the top players.
“And I think it will be at the heart of this whole particular strategy: it is that, in a couple of years, in a few short years, this will become a league for exceptional players only.
“It will become a league only for those who at the top of their game because we have only 18 clubs and the space for just eight international players [at each club].
“And, yes, we have resources and we're going to use those resources to make sure, once we build up infrastructure, that the only players here are the ones at the top of their game.”
Emenalo, technical director with Premier League side Chelsea from 2011-2017, was appointed last month to head the Saudi Pro League’s new Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence, which provides a centralised approach to transfers. His role involves assisting with “squad mapping”, where Emenalo works on international transfers with all 18 top-tier clubs.
The goal is to become sustainable. Once that is figured out, we will move in a different direction
Michael Emenalo
The league says Pace will help offer all clubs the “best possible expertise and governance to ensure a dynamic, young, yet sustainable future”, including implementing best practices in relation to scouting and recruitment.
“We want a disciplined structure that allows the clubs to manage their affairs efficiently,” Emenalo said. “Whether it’s finance or recruitment, or coaching, we want them to be as efficient as possible.
“The idea again is for every club to earn what they get – now and in the future. That’s the starting point. As time goes on, we will look at it to see if it works.
“The goal is to become sustainable. Once that is figured out, we will move in a different direction.”
Emenalo said the new structure also placed emphasis on developing Saudi footballers and, in collaboration with the Saudi Arabia Football Federation and the league’s clubs, to open a more obvious pathway for young local players.
On Friday, the Saudi Pro League season opener between Al Ahli and Al Hazem in Jeddah featured high-profile foreigner players in Mahrez, Firmino, Allan Saint-Maximin, Franck Kessie, Edouard Mendy and Roger Ibanez. All six joined Ahli, one of four clubs majority-owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund, this window.
Allan Saint-Maximin praises Al Ahli fans
A former Nigeria international, Emenalo said he did not believe the Saudi Pro League would require as long as the “trailblazing” Premier League to realise its overarching objective.
“I don't think is going to take the same amount of time that it took the Premier League to get there for us to establish ourselves,” he said. “As you can see from the [opening] game, the line-up that Al Ahli have, most Premier League clubs would be happy to have.
“In that sense I believe we are on the right path and that it will not take us as long to get to where the ambition has always been, which is to be one of the best in the world.”
Earlier this month, the Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, said he was not “too concerned” about the level of the kingdom’s recent spending, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called for the Saudi Pro League transfer window, which extends beyond its European counterparts, to September 7, to fall in line with those competitions.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said last month that Saudi Arabia had “changed the market” and that clubs “need to be aware of what is happening” regarding the possibility of losing players to the kingdom.
Asked whether the Premier League and its European peers feared the enhanced Saudi investment, Emenalo stressed the Saudi Pro League was not attempting to undermine the established order as LIV Golf had done with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
“The European leagues, especially the Premier League, are very strong, [are] entrenched; they have no reason to be scared,” Emenalo said. “I do feel they consider our presence to be disruptive. I have said we’re disruptive to enhance the understanding.
“There is panic in some areas, but this is from a misunderstanding of what we stand for, what we are trying to do. [Once they understand] then they will start panicking less and working with us.
Saudi Pro League signings so far
“I was told what Mr Klopp said and what Guardiola said. One is a coach I absolutely admire and the other is a good friend of mine, in Pep.
“I understand their concerns. Our goal is to work together with all the leagues and be a brotherhood in the football industry. We want to establish our place in the industry in a way that helps everyone.”
Emenalo said he had received countless messages from players from outside Saudi after Ahli’s 3-1 victory against Hazem – Firmino, the former Liverpool forward, scored a hat-trick – who, having watched the match, said their perception of the league had changed.
“Surprisingly, the biggest concern is narrative, and we have to demolish some of these very outrageous narratives out there that there is something wrong with the Saudi League or with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Emenalo said.
“That’s what they worry about, but I cannot tell you how many calls or messages I got last night from players who had stayed up to watch this game because they wanted to see and, after they saw it, thought: ‘You know what, it’s not what I expected. I would love to be part of it.’”
Saudi’s traditional four lead clubs – Ahli, champions Al Ittihad, record league winners Al Hilal, and Al Nassr – are now majority-owned by PIF. Thus, they have been by some way the biggest recruiters in the league this summer.
There's always more business to be done. We're always open for some surprises, something big to happen
Michael Emenalo
On whether he was wary of the league effectively becoming a two-tier competition separated by that financial divide, Emenalo said: “Great question, but there's no problem here. Because this is something that we've witnessed.
“The clubs in England or Spain or Italy were not owned by a big organisation called PIF. But they were big clubs, and they had significantly greater economic power than the other clubs.
“I don't think it's a problem; I think it is a challenge for those clubs. And as you saw yesterday, on the pitch, Al Hazem accepted that challenge and, realised that, ‘We can't sit here and cry about what we're getting; we have to show that we're in this league, and we're happy to be in this league and compete’.
“What we hope to have is what's happened in the Premier League: is that over time, there is a competitive balance that comes in from people in these clubs working really well, with the support of the league to improve their situation financially, structurally, and in terms of their technical ability to recruit and prepare well for games.”
Emenalo added: “We have strategy about improving the quality of the league, and the quality of every team. And we believe that if we do that, that will improve the competitive balance of the league. There’s no strategy to help a struggling team acquire a big name or a great team to lose a big name.
“But we’re looking strategically to improve all the teams giving them what they need within their budget, because you have to earn those players.
“So, a club like Al Hilal, [who] over a number of years have been a top club in this league, we can’t suddenly forget that. The same thing with all the other big clubs; they have earned the right to be at the top of the tree.”
Emenalo, who said some of the figures reported regarding transfer fees and player contracts have been inflated, confirmed the league had not completed its incomings this window.
On Sunday, it was reported Hilal were close to finalising a hugely lucrative deal for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar.
“There's always more business to be done,” Emenalo said. “I don't know what the calibre of that business will be. We're always open for some surprises, something big to happen.
“But now the clubs are working frantically to improve their squad, and they will continue to do that until the end of the transfer window. It’s no different from what goes on in [other prominent leagues].
“There's some transfers and some deals that are in the pipeline already, for the different clubs.”
BABYLON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Damien%20Chazelle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Jean%20Smart%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Bernardo Silva 16', Sterling 57', Gundogan 79'
Bournemouth 1
Wilson 44'
Man of the match: Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
List of alleged parties
May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members
May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party
Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson
Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party
Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters
Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Squads
India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur
West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
Full list of brands available for Instagram Checkout
Adidas @adidaswomen
Anastasia Beverly Hills @anastasiabeverlyhills
Balmain @balmain
Burberry @burberry
ColourPop @colourpopcosmetics
Dior @dior
H&M @hm
Huda Beauty @hudabeautyshop
KKW @kkwbeauty
Kylie Cosmetics @kyliecosmetics
MAC Cosmetics @maccosmetics
Michael Kors @michaelkors
NARS @narsissist
Nike @niketraining & @nikewomen
NYX Cosmetics @nyxcosmetics
Oscar de la Renta @oscardelarenta
Ouai Hair @theouai
Outdoor Voices @outdoorvoices
Prada @prada
Revolve @revolve
Uniqlo @uniqlo
Warby Parker @warbyparker
Zara @zara
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
SQUADS
South Africa:
JP Duminy (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, Robbie Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wkt), Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
Fixtures
Oct 26: Bloemfontein
Oct 29: Potchefstroom
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
Racecard
%3Cp%3E6pm%3A%20The%20Madjani%20Stakes%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(PA)%20Dh97%2C500%20(Dirt)%201%2C900m%3Cbr%3E6.35pm%3A%20Graduate%20Stakes%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20Dh100%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E7.10pm%3A%20Longines%20Dolcevita%20Collection%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh82%2C500%20(D)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E7.45pm%3A%20Longines%20Legend%20Driver%20Collection%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh82%2C500%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E8.20pm%3A%20Longines%20Master%20Collection%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh105%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E8.55pm%3A%20Longines%20Record%20Collection%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh87%2C500%20(D)%202%2C200m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Longines%20Spirit%20Collection%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh87%2C500%20(D)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Results
4pm: Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
