Al-Ahli Saudi players are set to resume training on Friday, December 27, 2024, following a two-week hiatus.
The Jeddah-based club will head to Doha on January 2, 2025, for an intensive training camp as part of their preparations for the second half of the season.
The break aligns with the pause in the Saudi Pro League to accommodate Saudi Arabia’s participation in the 2024 Arab Gulf Cup.
Matthias Jaissle, Al-Ahli’s head coach, outlined a structured recovery and training plan to optimize his squad’s readiness.
After their 4-2 victory over Al-Taawoun on December 7 in the 13th round of the league, the players spent four days in the coastal city of Neom.
The seaside retreat aimed to help the team recuperate and recharge ahead of the demanding schedule to come.
This was followed by a 10-day rest period before the squad reconvenes at the club’s facilities on December 27 for training sessions at the Prince Mohammed Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.
The team will fly to Doha on January 2 for a five-day training camp that includes a friendly match against Al-Wakrah of the Qatar Stars League.
Scheduled for January 6, 2025, the fixture will provide valuable match practice as the team prepares for the resumption of both the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League Elite following the Gulf Cup.
Firas Al-Buraikan, currently recovering from an injury sustained while playing for the Saudi national team, is expected to travel with the squad.
However, he will train individually to focus on regaining full fitness.
Riyad Mahrez, a key figure in Al-Ahli’s setup, will play a vital role in the team’s push for success in the coming months.
His leadership and on-field brilliance will be crucial as Al-Ahli look to improve their league standing and make further progress in the AFC Champions League.
Al-Ahli’s season so far has been a mix of highs and challenges. After a slow start that saw head coach Matthias Jaissle facing mounting criticism, the German manager has managed to stabilize the team’s performance.
Al-Ahli currently sits fifth in the league standings, just five points shy of a podium position.
The team has also advanced to the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16, bolstered by an unbeaten six-match streak comprising five wins and one draw.
The Doha training camp represents a critical phase for Riyad Mahrez and his teammates as they aim to maintain momentum and strengthen their position domestically and continentally in the upcoming fixtures.
