Al-Kholoud's manager, Des Buckingham, expressed his immense joy at his team's valuable 3-2 victory over Al-Khaleej in their rescheduled match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. He emphasized that this win represents a tremendous morale boost for the team at this crucial stage of the season.
In the post-match press conference, Buckingham emphasized the importance of the three points, especially given the difficult circumstances. He said: “The win was extremely important, particularly against a tough and stubborn opponent like Al-Khaleej on their home ground and in front of their fans. We faced significant challenges due to the absence of several key players, but the players who were available rose to the occasion and delivered a heroic performance.”.
The context of the match and its importance in the Roshan League
This victory comes at a time when Al-Kholoud was going through a difficult period marked by inconsistent results, making a positive outcome crucial for them to distance themselves from the relegation zone. The Roshan League this season is witnessing fierce competition at all levels, whether at the top, in the middle of the table, or in the fight to avoid relegation, making every point extremely valuable. A win against a team of Al-Khaleej's caliber, which has been performing well, gives Al-Kholoud a significant confidence boost for the remainder of the season.
The impact of the victory on the team's journey
Buckingham explained that his team desperately needed this win to regain balance and confidence after a series of challenges. He added, “We played a great game against a strong and well-organized team. I’m very proud of the effort the players put in throughout the ninety minutes; they showed great fighting spirit and determination to achieve the goal, and that’s what matters most to me.”.
With this victory, Al-Kholoud Club raised its points tally to 22, moving up to 14th place in the Roshan League standings and slightly away from the relegation zone. This win is expected to have a positive impact on the team in the upcoming rounds as they strive to secure their place in the professional league for another season and build on this result to achieve greater consistency in performance and results.
