The Al Shabab Post
Squad16 Nov 2026
Hamad Al Suwaidi damages knee ligaments — 94 days out
The words a physio says slowly. 94 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 ratings16 Nov 2026
Ahmed Juma, 34, rolls back the years — 8.08
There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.08 at 34, and nobody on the pitch was better.
Squad16 Nov 2026
Tempers go at Al Shabab
Khalfan Nader 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 terraces16 Nov 2026
Al Shabab supporters have found a favourite in Khalfan Ismail
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 22-year-old it feels ownership of. Khalfan Ismail 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.
Match14 Nov 2026
Hamad Mabkhout the difference as Al Shabab beat Al Wahda
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Hamad Mabkhout. 2‑0 against Al Wahda, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Player ratings16 Nov 2026
A masterclass from Hamad Mabkhout
Marked 8.22 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings16 Nov 2026
Amer Al Bloushi runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 14. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad16 Nov 2026
Mahmoud Hassan gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad16 Nov 2026
Words at Al Shabab training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Khalid Al Bloushi is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
In brief
- Player ratings Nothing got past Youssef Al Suwaidi
- The terraces Hamad Mabkhout has his own song now