All eyes in Saudi football, particularly in the Eastern Province, are on Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, which will host a highly anticipated clash between the region's two giants, Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ettifaq , in a rescheduled match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. This match is more than just three points in the standings; it's a new chapter in the story of the " Eastern Derby ," one of the oldest and most fiercely contested derbies in Saudi football history.
Background and history of the Eastern Derby
The historic rivalry between Al-Qadisiyah (Knights of Khobar) and Al-Ettifaq (Knights of Dahna) stretches back decades, with the two teams representing the neighboring cities of Khobar and Dammam. Their encounters have always been characterized by intense fan enthusiasm and high-level technical skill on the pitch. The derby's significance extends beyond local competition, encompassing the pursuit of domestic and Asian titles at various times, further enhancing the value and importance of their direct encounters and making them a highly anticipated sporting event for the Saudi sports community.
Youssef Al-Salem: The goalscorer who brought the two clubs together
When discussing the historical statistics of this derby, the name of the late striker Yousef Al-Salem . He holds the record for most goals scored in matches between the two teams in the Saudi Professional League with five goals. The striking irony is that Al-Salem, who began his football career in the youth ranks of Al-Qadisiyah Club, scored all five of his derby goals while wearing the jersey of their traditional rivals, Al-Ettifaq Club.
Al-Salem began his journey with Al-Qadisiyah's first team in the 2004/2005 season. After four seasons with the "Banu Qadis" (Al-Qadisiyah's nickname), he moved to Al-Shabab. However, his most prominent stint was with Al-Ettifaq, which he joined in the 2009/2010 season, where he etched his name in gold in the history of the Eastern Province derby. Al-Salem continued with "Faris Al-Dahna" (Al-Ettifaq's nickname) until the 2013/2014 season, before embarking on a successful spell with Al-Hilal. He then returned to Al-Ettifaq for the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, concluding a career filled with contributions and goals.
The importance of the match and its expected impact
The two teams enter the match with contrasting ambitions, reflecting their positions in the league table. Al-Qadisiyah, currently fourth with 50 points, aims for a victory to solidify their place in the top four and compete for higher positions. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq, in seventh place with 38 points, seeks to improve their ranking and move towards a more secure mid-table position. More importantly, they aim for a significant morale-boosting victory against their neighbor and traditional rival. A derby win transcends mere numerical considerations, providing the victorious team with a tremendous morale boost and instilling in their fans a sense of pride and footballing dominance in the Eastern Province until the next encounter.
