Aboubacar Bah

Defensive Midfielder - Al-Hazem
10 Oct 2026
Saturday
Process

Marked for Aboubacar Bah

9 Edition

The Al-Hazem Herald

28 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Squad

Youssouf Oumarou damages knee ligaments — 51 days out

The words a physio says slowly. 51 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.

Player ratings

No sign of nerves from Miguel Carvalho at 21 — 9.01

The hardest thing about being 21 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Miguel Carvalho did not need any: 9.01, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.

Player ratings

Amir Sayoud, 36, rolls back the years — 8.83

There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.83 at 36, and nobody on the pitch was better.

Squad

Tempers go at Al-Hazem

Bruno Varela was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

The terraces

Al-Hazem supporters have found a favourite in Miguel Carvalho

There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 21-year-old it feels ownership of. Miguel Carvalho has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.

Match

Al-Hazem see off Al-Saudi Al-Watani

Three points for Al-Hazem, 2‑0 the final word against Al-Saudi Al-Watani in a contest settled by the finer margins.

Player ratings

Loreintz Rosier shuts the door

Defensive actions: 20, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.

Player ratings

Sultan Tanker shuts the door

Defensive actions: 16, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.

Squad

No hiding place for Abdullah Al-Shanqiti

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Abdullah Al-Shanqiti, and the manager let it.

In brief

Back issues
2 Edition

The Al-Hazem Herald

10 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Market

Al-Shoulla come back empty-handed

The bid was some way short and Al-Hazem did not need long over it. Nobody in the game reads a first refusal as the end of anything.

Squad

Tempers go at Al-Hazem

Bruno Varela was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Ahmed Al-Nakhli signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Ahmed Al-Nakhli commits to Al-Hazem for another 3 years.

Squad

Loreintz Rosier falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

Market

Nobody at Al-Hazem has picked up the phone to Fábio Martins

24 months to run and not a word offered. A club that lets the calendar negotiate for it usually ends up losing to the calendar.

Market

Talks stall between Al-Hazem and Sultan Tanker

“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.

In brief

1 Edition

The Al-Hazem Herald

3 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Bruno Varela signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Bruno Varela commits to Al-Hazem for another 3 years.

Squad

Tempers go at Al-Hazem

Amir Sayoud was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Market

Eyes on Saud Al-Rashed again

The phone has started ringing about Saud Al-Rashed again, and this time the name on the line is Al-Nahda. Al-Hazem are listening politely and promising nothing.

Squad

Bruno Varela falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

Market

Talks stall between Al-Hazem and Omar Al-Somah

“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.

Market

36 months and counting on Bruno Varela

Still no offer on the table, and Bruno Varela’s deal keeps shrinking. In boardroom language, silence this long stops being an oversight and starts being an answer.

In brief