Greek coach Giorgos Donis, manager of the first football team at Al-Khaleej Club, revealed the real and medical reasons that prompted him not to include Norwegian striker Joshua King in the starting lineup during the difficult match against Al-Hilal, which brought the two teams together as part of the eleventh round of the Saudi Professional League competition.
In the press conference following the thrilling match at the Kingdom Arena, which ended in a 3-2 victory for Al-Hilal, Donis explained the medical situation of his professional player with complete transparency. The coach, who is well-versed in Saudi football, said: "Joshu King was unable to start today due to injury, and he won't start in the next match either. We don't want to lose the player for an extended period, and I fully respect the medical staff's instructions.".
Shining despite injury and smart human resources management
Despite not starting the match, Joshua King immediately demonstrated his immense talent upon entering the pitch, scoring against Al-Hilal and showcasing his impressive goal-scoring instinct. This performance, honed through his extensive experience in the English Premier League, reflects Donis's tactical and managerial acumen, as he opted to sacrifice the player's starting role in a single match to ensure his readiness for the remainder of the long and demanding season.
The context of the competition and the strength of the opponent
These statements come at a time when Al-Khaleej faces significant challenges in the Roshan League, particularly against top teams like Al-Hilal, the defending champions and current league leaders. Facing Al-Hilal at their home ground, the Kingdom Arena, is considered one of the toughest tests for any team in the league, given the formidable attacking prowess of "The Boss" and their current form.
Giorgos Donis is one of the coaches who has extensive experience in Saudi stadiums, as he has previously coached Al-Hilal itself in previous periods, which makes him fully aware of the extent of the pressures and the importance of maintaining the team’s basic pillars such as Joshua King, to avoid the aggravation of muscle injuries that may end the player’s season early.
A future outlook for the Gulf
With this result, and despite the strong performance and scoring two goals against the league leader, Al-Khaleej Club seeks to organize its cards for the upcoming matches, relying on a balanced medical and technical plan to ensure Joshua King’s full readiness, to be a key support in the team’s attack line, which aspires to improve its position in the Saudi Professional League standings.
