Al-Najma FC, a Saudi Arabian club competing in the Yellow League (first division), has officially announced the termination of its contract with first-team football manager, Portuguese coach Mario Silva, and his coaching staff. This decisive decision comes in the wake of a series of disastrous results that have left the team in a precarious position in the league standings.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the club's management thanked coach Silva for his efforts during his tenure and wished him well in his future career. However, the statistics spoke harsher than the kind words, as the team languishes at the bottom of the league table with only 5 points, the worst record in the club's recent history in the competition.
Context of the dismissal: A season to forget
The dismissal was an inevitable consequence of the team's dismal performance this season. Over 20 rounds, the team, under Silva's leadership, failed to secure a single victory – a rare occurrence in professional leagues. They managed only five draws and suffered 15 heavy defeats. Their attacking and defensive statistics were no better, with the team scoring a mere 18 goals while conceding 41, highlighting a clear imbalance within the squad.
The importance of the decision and its expected impact
This decision represents an attempt by the club's management to salvage what they can and avoid relegation. With the fierce competition in the Yellow League, which has become the gateway to the star-studded Saudi Professional League, remaining in the top division has become a major challenge. The management hopes this dismissal will have a positive impact on the players and revitalize the team for the remaining matches of the season. The new coach, who has yet to be announced, will face the near-impossible task of rebuilding the players' confidence and trying to accumulate as many points as possible to cling to any hope of survival.
Al-Najma is preparing for a crucial and decisive match next Saturday when they host Al-Kholoud in the 22nd round of the league. This match will be a true test of the team's ability to overcome its current crisis and start a new chapter in its fight to avoid relegation.
