The Al-Fayha Chronicle
Market10 Aug 2026
Al-Fayha turn down Al-Ahli for Alfa Semedo
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Squad10 Aug 2026
A falling-out at Al-Fayha
Chris Smalling and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Market10 Aug 2026
Al-Fayha promote Sami Al-Mutairi from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Sami Al-Mutairi has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Aug 2026
Al-Fayha promote Sultan Al-Salem from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Sultan Al-Salem has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Aug 2026
Ibrahim Al-Enezi steps up from the Al-Fayha academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Ibrahim Al-Enezi has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
The dugout10 Aug 2026
Rayyan Enad 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.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Words at Al-Fayha training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Abdulrahman Al-Anazi 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.
Squad10 Aug 2026
A wage question at Al-Fayha
Fashion Sakala has done the arithmetic and does not like the answer. Nothing corrodes a squad faster, and no club has ever solved it by explaining the wage structure to a footballer.
The terraces10 Aug 2026
The Silvère Ganvoula rumours reach the terraces
What was a back-page link has become a chant, and the chant is not friendly. Al-Fayha would rather it were settled quietly, and it has stopped being quiet.
In brief
- Squad Chris Smalling has started doing his badges
- Looking ahead Looking ahead: the trip to Ohod