International goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais, currently playing for Al-Ula on loan from Al-Hilal, praised his teammate in the national team and Al-Hilal, Salem Al-Dawsari, describing him as the “golden player” of his generation, in strong statements that came after his team Al-Ula’s victory over Al-Diriyah in the Yellow Professional League competitions.
Speaking on the “Thamania” program, Al-Owais didn't hesitate to offer his full support to Al-Dawsari, who has faced some criticism recently. Al-Owais said, “Salem Al-Dawsari has played in four AFC Champions League finals, and he's a player who handles immense pressure on behalf of Al-Hilal. Every team needs a leader, and for me, Salem is the golden player on my team and in my generation.” He added, emphasizing Al-Dawsari's strong character, “He's faced a lot of criticism lately, but he's endured a great deal, and he's the best player of my generation. We want to continue working in this way.”.
A historical context of a relationship that extends to the national team and Al-Hilal
Al-Owais's praise of Al-Dawsari reflects a strong camaraderie that has bound the two players for years, both at Al-Hilal before Al-Owais's loan spell, and as key pillars of the Saudi national team. Both were part of the historic generation that achieved the famous victory over Argentina in the 2012 World Cup in Qatar, with Al-Dawsari scoring the legendary winning goal and Al-Owais delivering a heroic performance in goal. This shared achievement lends Al-Owais's words added credibility and depth; it is not merely a casual compliment, but an assessment from a teammate who shared both the most difficult and the most beautiful moments with him.
The importance of Al-Dawsari as an icon of Saudi football
Salem Al-Dawsari, nicknamed "The Tornado," is considered one of the most prominent players in the history of Saudi and Asian football. His career with Al-Hilal is replete with local and continental titles, most notably winning the AFC Champions League twice (2019 and 2021), in addition to being named AFC Player of the Year in 2022. His ability to decide matches in big games and score goals in international tournaments, such as the World Cup (he scored in the 2018 and 2022 editions), has made him a symbol for the current generation. Al-Owais's statements highlight another aspect of Al-Dawsari's personality: his ability to handle the immense media and fan pressure that accompanies stars of major clubs like Al-Hilal, a quality no less important than his technical skill.
The expected impact of Al-Owais's statements
These statements are expected to have a positive impact on the morale of Salem Al-Dawsari and Al-Hilal as a whole, especially coming from a player of Mohammed Al-Owais's stature. As Al-Hilal prepares for crucial matches in various competitions, most notably the AFC Champions League against Al-Wahda, this support will bolster team cohesion and underscore the high morale among the players. It also serves as a message to fans and critics, renewing their confidence in one of the team's most important attacking weapons and reminding them of his undeniable technical and leadership value to the club and Saudi football.
