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Saudi Ministry of Sport to Support NEOM’s Aim to Become Global Sports Hub

The Saudi Ministry of Sport signed an MoU with NEOM to support its plan to become a world-leading destination for sports. (NEOM)
The Saudi Ministry of Sport signed an MoU with NEOM to support its plan to become a world-leading destination for sports. (NEOM)
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Saudi Ministry of Sport to Support NEOM’s Aim to Become Global Sports Hub

The Saudi Ministry of Sport signed an MoU with NEOM to support its plan to become a world-leading destination for sports. (NEOM)
The Saudi Ministry of Sport signed an MoU with NEOM to support its plan to become a world-leading destination for sports. (NEOM)

The Saudi Ministry of Sport signed on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NEOM to support its plan to become a world-leading destination for sports.

The agreement was signed by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport, and Nadhmi Al Nasr, CEO of NEOM, in the presence of Abdul Ilah bin Saad Al-Dalak, Assistant Minister of Sports, and Jan Paterson, Sector Head of Sport at NEOM.

The partnership will enable NEOM to deliver its strategic objectives and align with the Ministry of Sports’ vision through building an active society, the advancement of youth and women in sport and the creation of job opportunities in the sector, read a statement by NEOM. The agreement also includes cooperation between the two parties in Formula E in line with NEOM’s vision for sustainable sports.

The MoU comes as the Ministry of Sport seeks to develop the sector in the Kingdom in line with Saudi Vision 2030. It is also aligned with NEOM’s aim to become a global center for sports that provides an environment for athletes to excel while also offering exceptional livability. It also contributes to growth, innovation and economic prosperity in the sector.

Commenting on the cooperation, Prince Abdulaziz said: “We are pleased to sign this memorandum with NEOM as we aim from this fruitful cooperation to contribute to the development of this vital and important sector, and to open the way for all parties and companies to share their capabilities to elevate the sports industry, and to create the appropriate environment for athletes from our dear country to become the ambassadors of their country in international and regional forums.

“The sports sector in the Kingdom enjoys unprecedented support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense - and we - in the Ministry of Sport, are working hard and continuously to develop this vital and important sector, which targets a large segment of the young men and women of this dear country, in line with the objectives of The Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and we will move forward to achieve these goals, with the combined efforts of all relevant authorities and stakeholders.”

Al Nasr said: “We are pleased to cooperate with the Ministry to create a vibrant and active living environment capable of attracting the best talent and minds from around the world. This is one of the priorities of the project, given that sport is of great importance, as one of the key components of NEOM societies.

“Sports investment in the Kingdom is growing significantly and tangibly to become one of the most lucrative and innovative sectors in the world, and this forms an important aspect of NEOM’s strategy to create promising sectors and build a solid economy.

“This memorandum will allow exploring all possible opportunities and building sports entities that contribute to empowering Saudi youth and residents of NEOM, so that sports will be a source of inspiration for them. We at NEOM are working to provide the most advanced sports facilities by attracting unprecedented investments in the field, hosting the most important sporting events, teams and athletes from all over the world, and attracting global industry leaders.”

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Young African Players Chase Football 'Dream' in Brazil

Young African footballers like Santos FC's Angolan forward Osvaldo Yamba Kinanga, are playing in Brazil, a country known as the biggest producer and exporter of footballers in the world - AFP
Young African footballers like Santos FC's Angolan forward Osvaldo Yamba Kinanga, are playing in Brazil, a country known as the biggest producer and exporter of footballers in the world - AFP
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Young African Players Chase Football 'Dream' in Brazil

Young African footballers like Santos FC's Angolan forward Osvaldo Yamba Kinanga, are playing in Brazil, a country known as the biggest producer and exporter of footballers in the world - AFP
Young African footballers like Santos FC's Angolan forward Osvaldo Yamba Kinanga, are playing in Brazil, a country known as the biggest producer and exporter of footballers in the world - AFP

For King Faisal, a 20-year-old winger from Ghana, the invitation to move to Brazil to play football is easily summed up: "It was a dream."

"I believed when I came here, it would help me change the life of my family and many other people," he told AFP in Sao Paulo.

For the past year and a half, he has been playing on the under-20s squad for Sao Paulo FC, one of South America's most prominent clubs.

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He and a small number of other Africans are today tearing across pitches in Brazil, a country known as the biggest producer and exporter of footballers in the world, from Pele to Neymar.
For at least one, though, the transformative opportunity has also been tinged by racism.

In Brazil, an incubator for star players bought up by Europe's moneyed elite clubs, the benefit in return is new blood for its lower divisions, with players who are fiercely committed.

The Africans also are paid less than footballers from neighboring Argentina and Uruguay, according to AFP.

And European sides also are increasingly showcasing talented African players, burnishing their appeal and helping demolish longstanding barriers in Brazilian clubs against foreign talent.

"It's about intensity," said Ricardo Manfrim Goncalves, of the Quality agency representing players.

"They are going to commit more than what even a Brazilian player will."

- 'People underestimate us' -

The agent said the young African players -- usually strikers -- are frequently not of interest to the European clubs, and are seen as contributing to offset what he called a "decline" in Brazilian lower-division teams.

Although the African transfer trend is relatively minor for the moment, it has picked up since last year, adding a new aspect to the sport in Brazil, where Pele stills holds demi-god status, two years after dying at the age of 82.

Brazilian scouts now regularly scour Africa for promising young players, and have so far found them in Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

Since 2023, at least a dozen have been signed by or tried out for youth squads, ranging from first- and second-division teams to those that compete only in state championships, according to an AFP tally.

At the professional level, they include Angolan center-back Bastos, with the Botafogo club, which made it through to the November 30 final of the Copa Libertadores tournament.

There is also Congolese winger Yannick Bolasie with Criciuma, and Gambian forward Yusupha Njie with Santos, the club that brought Pele and Neymar into the limelight.

For those taking up the call, the reality of moving to Brazil -- the country with the biggest population of African descendants outside Africa -- has its problems.

Beyond the issues of language, separation from family members and cultural differences, there is racism.

Brazil's classist society, in which people of European descent are often perceived as of higher status than those of African descent, can make the transition difficult.

Osvaldo Yamba Kinanga, who arrived in Sao Paulo nine years ago from Angola with his family and now plays in Santos' under-15s, said he was initially buffeted by the racism directed at him.

"A lot of people underestimate us," he said.

"I'm proud of being African -- we're more competitive. I don't want to speak badly of the Brazilians, but some just relax because they're born with the ability to play football."

- 'Land of football' -

Today a naturalized Brazilian citizen, Yamba Kinanga hopes to have the future choice of playing for the national side of either Angola or Brazil.

For new arrivals, the financial boost of playing in Brazil can be substantial. Some of their Brazilian peers earn monthly salaries in the thousands of dollars.

"There are players aged 11, 12, 13 who are sometimes earning absurd amounts" that can "warp" their development, said Manfrim Goncalves of the Quality agency.

For many of the African teens, though, the chance to develop their careers in the spiritual home of the beautiful game is the overriding appeal.

"The whole world knows Brazil as the land of football," said Coulibaly Yeko Appolinaire, a 16-year-old who was captain of Ivory Coast's national team in his category before starting five months ago with Santos.

His Portuguese is still coming along, but his ambition to make it big in Brazil is plain.

"We used to sit at home and watch the great players on the television. Now we'd love to be like those great players. That's my dream," he said.