على مدى أكثر من 3 عقود ظل اسم علي جبلي حاضراً في المشهد الرياضي السعودي بصوت جهور يصدح من مدرجات المحالة، وبقلم جريء رسم ملامح الصحافة الرياضية في عسير وخارجها. بدأ رحلته بين أعمدة الصحف الورقية، فتنقّل بين «المدينة» و«الرياضية»، وترك بصمته في حوارات أثارت الرأي العام في شارع الرياضة، ودوّت أصداؤها في أروقة المحاكم حين قاد أحد حواراته رئيسَي ناديَيْن إلى المحكمة. لم يكتفِ بمهنة الصحافة، بل ارتدى زيّ الحكم حتى بلغ الدرجة الأولى، وأسهم من موقعه في لجنة الحكام الفرعية بعسير في بروز أسماء علّقت شارة العالمية. كما خاض تجربة العمل الإعلامي التلفزيوني والإذاعي، وكان أول من أسّس مركزاً إعلامياً لنادٍ في المنطقة، جامعاً بين المايكروفون والورق وصفارة الحكم. وبين هذه التجارب، مارس دور وكيل اللاعبين المعتمد من «فيفا»، ليعكس صورة الرياضي الشامل الذي جمع بين الميدان والكواليس. هنا يفتح علي جبلي قلبه وذاكرته لـ«عكاظ»، كاشفاً أسرار مسيرته وأوجاعها، ومواقف صنعت منه شاهداً على تحوّلات الرياضة والإعلام في المملكة. فإلى تفاصيل الحوار.
• هل أنت غائب أم مغيّب عن الإعلام الرياضي اليوم؟
•• غائب بقرار شخصي بعد سرعة وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وتسارع الزمن، مما جعل معظم الأخبار والأحداث تصبح «قص» و«لصق» بين وسائل التواصل، إضافة لتقدّم العمر، فقد أمضيت أكثر من ربع قرن متنقلاً بين عدة صحف ورقية بدأتها بالمدينة وختمتها في صحيفة الرياضية.
• كنت صحفياً جريئاً، بماذا خرجت من الصحافة الرياضية؟
•• بفضل الله كان لي حضور معروف، ولي حوارات بارزة أجريتها في صحيفة الرياضية مع كثيرين، لكن أبرزها حواري مع رئيسين تعاقبا على رئاسة أحد الأندية، وبسبب بعض الاتهامات التي وردت في الحوارين رفع كل منهما قضية على الآخر، وصدرت أحكام شرعية بالسجن والاعتذار في تلك القضايا بعد هذين الحوارين، وكنت ولله الحمد موثقاً كل شيء، وهذا التوثيق ساعدني حينما طلبت المحكمة الإثباتات.
• هل عملت في أماكن أخرى لها علاقة بالرياضة غير الصحافة الورقية؟
•• نعم، عملت محللاً مع القنوات الرياضية السعودية لتحليل دوري الدرجة الأولى، وعملت مراسلاً سعودياً لبرنامج إذاعي رياضي في «mbc»، الذي كان يقدّمه المغربي محمد بن ثابت. ومن الصدف أنني كنت أول من أذاع خبر وفاة الأمير عبدالرحمن بن سعود -رحمه الله- من خلال البرنامج بعد وفاته بساعتين تقريباً. وكنت أوّل مدير لمركز إعلامي بأندية عسير أثناء رئاسة عبدالوهاب بن مجثل لنادي أبها عام 1420هـ تقريباً، وبعد صعود الفريق للدرجة الأولى أعددت كتيباً عن الصعود بعنوان «أبها.. التاريخ.. التفرد والإنجاز»، وُزِّع في حفل الصعود بحضور الأمير خالد الفيصل، وكان لي شرف تقديم الحفل الخطابي أيضاً، وعملت مذيعاً داخلياً في ملعب مدينة الأمير سلطان بن عبدالعزيز الرياضية بالمحالة لمدة 33 سنة، منها 20 تقريباً كنت فيها متطوعاً، والحمد لله كُرّمت بأن عُمل عنّي فيلم توثيقي من وزارة الرياضة نُشر على مواقع الوزارة للتواصل الاجتماعي في حلقته الرابعة كأقدم الرياضيين على مستوى المملكة.
• خلال عملك في هذه الأماكن المتعددة، لا بدّ أنّ هناك مواقف محرجة حدثت لك.. حدثنا عن أبرزها.
•• المواقف المحرجة كثيرة جداً، لكن أبرزها عندما تم تشغيل نشيد دوري روشن بدلاً من النشيد الوطني، وتم تلافي الموضوع بسرعة، وقد حضر لنا في غرفة الكونترول وكيل الوزارة، ومدير البطولة، ومدير فرع الوزارة، رغم أن العمل ليس من اختصاصنا أصلاً.
أما الموقف الثاني، فمعلوم أنه لا توجد في المنطقة المركزية بملعب المحالة دورة مياه، وكان الملعب مزدحماً بالجماهير، مما اضطرني بين الشوطين للنزول للمنصة الرئيسية واستخدام المرافق هناك، لكنني فوجئت بأن أحد المسؤولين الذي حضر (منتدب) من الوزارة يوجّه بمنعي من استخدام تلك المرافق، رغم أنني أمضيت نصف عمري متطوعاً في المحالة!
• يقال إنّك كنت صديقاً للمعلقين الرياضيين.. حدثنا عن هذه الصداقة.
•• بدأت علاقتي بالمعلقين الرياضيين من أيام دورات الصداقة، حيث كان أي معلق يصل للملعب يجد كل شيء جاهزاً أمامه، رغم أن ذلك ليس من مهماتي، حتى الشاهي والقهوة أحضرهما من منزلي. وفي إحدى المباريات حضر المعلق المغربي محمد حسين لأول مرة، وعندما استقبلته وسلمته تشكيلة الفريقين قال: لا بد أن تكون علي جبلي؟!، قلت: كيف عرفت؟ فقال: تواصلت مع فهد العتيبي وأبلغته أني ذاهب لأبها، فقال لي ستجد في استقبالك أفضل من يعمل في الاستاد الرياضي وذكر اسمك!
أما الموقف الطريف فكان مع معلق آخر، وكان قريباً من استاد الأمير عبدالله الفيصل في جدة، حيث اتصل بي وقال: تكفى جهّز لي التشكيلة. قلت: أنا في أبها. قال: أعرف، ولكنك دلعتنا!
• عملت في الإذاعة الداخلية 30 عاماً، لماذا تركتها؟!
•• لي مستحقات مالية لـ43 مباراة من أعوام 37 إلى 39هـ لم تصرف، ومع ذلك قرّرت المغادرة لأنني كنت أبحث عن كرامتي!
• الأندية الرياضية في عسير.. كيف تراها؟
•• ما زلنا مسرورين بوجود نادي ضمك ضمن دوري روشن، وننتظر عودة أبها، وصعود جرش، والمصيف، وبقية الأندية للدرجات الأعلى.
• الصحافة الرياضية في عسير غائبة عن المشهد بشكل لافت، لماذا؟
•• لا أعرف الأسباب، وقد يكون القصور من المراكز الإعلامية، ثم إن وسائل التواصل الحديثة ساهمت في هذا، فقد أصبح بإمكان أي شخص النسخ من جواله والإرسال والتمصدر، إضافة إلى أن المواهب الإعلامية قليلة جداً، وحقيقة أصبحت «أشفق» على الصحافة عندما أسمع أو أقرأ أسئلة يطرحها بعض من بلي بهم المجال الرياضي!
• الانتخابات الأخيرة في نادي أبها الرياضي كان لها في الأسابيع الماضية زخم كبير.. كيف يقرأها صحفي رياضي مثل علي جبلي؟
•• يجب إعادة النظر في نظام الجمعيات العمومية فليس من العدل أن يشتري أحد المترشحين الكرسي بماله ويغادر أحد الأكفاء بسبب لعبة المال في التصويت، أما بالنسبة لنادي أبها فالأيام القادمة كفيلة بكشف ما أُثير حول أصوات المحامي ماجد الزهراني، وحول شركة التعاقدات التي سوف تتعامل مع النادي خلال السنوات الأربع القادمة، وشخصياً أتمنى التوفيق للأخ سعد حامد، ونائبه علي القاسمي، وإدارتهما، وأتمنى أن يعود الفريق مجدّداً لدوري روشن.
• كانت لك جهود كبيرة في رياضة منطقة عسير ورجال ألمع تحديداً.. ومع ذلك يغيب اسمك اليوم في كثير من المناشط والمجالات.. لماذا؟
•• بالنسبة لرياضة عسير، الحمد لله أحظى بتقدير واحترام كبيرين أينما ذهبت، وكان آخر هذا التقدير في نهائي دورة آل سرحان التي حضرها مدير فرع وزارة الرياضة فهد آل حنتوم وتلقيت فيها إشادات وتقديراً كبيراً منه شخصياً ومن بقية الرياضيين.
أما رياضة ألمع فهي حكاية أخرى، فأنت تعرف أنني من المؤسسين لنادي ألمع، ولعدد من الفرق هناك، ومع ذلك تم تجاهلي من أي دعوة لجميع مناسبات النادي ومبارياته، وفي مقدمتها حفل التأسيس، وقد أجد العذر لرئيس النادي (فايع الحياني) كونه لم يلعب في النادي ولم يعرف عن النادي أي شيء إلّا عند الاعتماد، وحظي بشرف أن يكون أول رئيس لنادي ألمع بعد اعتماده، ولكنّ العتب على بعض الأعضاء الذين دربتهم في كاظمة، وفي ألمع، ومع ذلك تجاهلوني من أجل عضوية مجلس أو راتب تدريب! وللعلم، نادي ألمع عند التأسيس كان في الدرجة الثالثة وحالياً في الرابعة، ولك أن تتخيل أن نائب رئيس نادي المصيف وجَّه لي دعوة لحضور مباراة فريقه ضد ألمع!
وإذا كان من شُكر فهو لأعضاء فريق الكفاح، فهم أوفياء رغم الفترة القصيرة التي دربت فيها فريقهم.
• ما الحلول التي تراها مناسبة لصعود نادي ألمع للدرجات الأعلى؟
•• التجديد مطلوب وأنظمة الوزارة (حسب علمي) لا تجيز استمرار أي إدارة أكثر من 8 سنوات، والمنطقة مليئة بالكفاءات المؤهلة.
• تلاميذ في الصحافة الرياضية تعلموا أبجديات الصحافة الرياضية على أنفاس علي جبلي.. هل جحدك هؤلاء اليوم بعد أن كبروا؟
•• بفضل الله تعالى كان دوري كبير في بروز أكثر من 15 إعلامياً من منطقة عسير وخارجها، وللأسف الشديد البعض ممن يتنقل بين الفضائيات حالياً أصبح لا يرد على الجوال، والبعض كبر في عمره ولكنه لا يزال يرسل لي يطلب صياغة أسئلة لحوارات أو مؤتمرات صحفية!
• كيف ينظر إعلامي رياضي مثل علي جبلي ما زال متابعاً وملتصقاً بالمجال لمستقبل نادي أبها الرياضي مع إدارته الجديدة والمنتخبة بفارق أصوات كبيرة؟
•• أتمنى لهم التوفيق والعودة للممتاز، أما فارق الأصوات الذي حدث في الجمعية الأخيرة فهو كما ذكرت سابقاً بسبب خلل في نظام الجمعيات الحالي، وقد التقيت الأخ سعد حامد بعد الجمعية، وأكد لي أن أصوات ماجد عيدان الزهراني هي التي رجّحت كفته، والأحمري صاحب خبرة جيدة، وبإذن الله يعود بالفريق الأول لدوري روشن.
• ماذا عن تجربتك مع التحكيم؟
•• وصلت للدرجة الأولى في تحكيم كرة القدم وكُلّفت بعضوية لجنة الحكام 5 سنوات، ساهمت خلالها في بروز عدد من الحكام ووصولهم للدوري الممتاز، وحصول عبدالرحمن القحطاني على الشارة الدولية رغم الحرب الضروس التي لقيتها في اللجنة بعد التجديد الذي عملته ونجحت فيه.
اليوم، ابني يزيد حكم مساعد درجة ثالثة ومن المساعدين المميزين على مستوى المملكة في القطاعات السنية، ودعواتي له بأن يكون بإذن الله تعالى من حكام كأس العالم 2034، التي نسعد باستضافتها في هذا البلد العظيم، وهو طالب أيضاً في قسم الإعلام.
• كانت لك تجربة كوكيل لاعبين معتمد من «فيفا»... حدثنا عن هذه التجربة.
•• عملت وكيل لاعبين معتمداً من «فيفا»، ووسيط لاعبين بعد تعديل المسمى، وما زلت أمارس العمل على فترات متقطعة بعد تغيير بعض اللوائح والأنظمة.
وكان الكابتن صالح المحمدي صاحب العقد رقم (1) بعد اعتمادي من «فيفا»، إلى جانب علي عطيف، وأحمد مفلح، وعبدالله راسان، وبعض اللاعبين والمدربين الأجانب!
ومع أنّ هناك من يغبطنا كوكلاء لاعبين بالحصول على مبالغ جيدة إلّا أننا نتعرّض لخسائر كبيرة أيضاً، ومماطلات من لاعبين ومدربين ورؤساء أندية، أنا شخصياً تبقى لي في ذمة أحد رؤساء الأندية 90 ألف ريال، ورئيس نادٍ آخر غادر كرسي الرئاسة وفي ذمته 15 ألف ريال، كما أنّ مدرباً عربياً يدرب حالياً في روشن ماطلني في 4 آلاف ريال من 10 سنوات حتى اليوم، رغم أنني أدخلته الدوري السعودي من أوسع أبوابه، وتبقّى لي 3 آلاف ريال في ذمة لاعب آخر، ولهذه الأسباب الكثير من الوسطاء تركوا المجال نهائياً!
• كلمة أخيرة ؟
•• شكراً لكم في «عكاظ» على هذه المساحة الرائعة والوقت الثمين.
كرّمتني الوزارة بفيلم وثائقي.. ومنعني مسؤول من دورة مياه الملعب..
جبلي لـ«عكاظ»: حواراتي الصحفية أوصلت رئيسَي ناديَيْن إلى المحاكم
17 أغسطس 2025 - 23:55
|
آخر تحديث 17 أغسطس 2025 - 23:55
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
حاوره:علي فايع (أبها) alma33e@
Over more than three decades, the name Ali Jabali has been present in the Saudi sports scene with a loud voice echoing from the stands of Al-Mahala, and with a bold pen that shaped the features of sports journalism in Asir and beyond. He began his journey among the columns of print newspapers, moving between "Al-Madina" and "Al-Riyadiyah," leaving his mark in dialogues that stirred public opinion in the sports street, and resonated in the halls of courts when one of his dialogues led the presidents of two clubs to court. He did not limit himself to the profession of journalism; he also donned the referee's uniform, reaching the first division, and contributed from his position in the sub-referees committee in Asir to the emergence of names that wore the international badge. He also ventured into television and radio media work, being the first to establish a media center for a club in the region, combining the microphone, paper, and the referee's whistle. Among these experiences, he played the role of a FIFA-certified player agent, reflecting the image of a comprehensive athlete who combined the field and the backstage. Here, Ali Jabali opens his heart and memory to "Okaz," revealing the secrets of his journey and its pains, and the moments that made him a witness to the transformations of sports and media in the Kingdom. So, to the details of the dialogue.
• Are you absent or sidelined from sports media today?
•• I am absent by personal choice after the rapid pace of social media and the acceleration of time, which made most news and events become "cut" and "paste" among social media platforms. Additionally, with age advancing, I have spent more than a quarter of a century moving between several print newspapers, starting with Al-Madina and ending with Al-Riyadiyah.
• You were a bold journalist; what did you gain from sports journalism?
•• Thanks to God, I had a well-known presence, and I conducted prominent interviews in Al-Riyadiyah with many, but the most notable was my interview with two presidents who succeeded each other at one club. Due to some accusations that arose in the two interviews, each of them filed a lawsuit against the other, and legal rulings were issued for imprisonment and apology in those cases after these interviews. I was, thank God, documenting everything, and this documentation helped me when the court requested evidence.
• Did you work in other places related to sports besides print journalism?
•• Yes, I worked as an analyst with Saudi sports channels to analyze the first division league, and I served as a Saudi correspondent for a sports radio program on "mbc," which was presented by the Moroccan Mohamed Ben Thabet. Coincidentally, I was the first to announce the news of the death of Prince Abdulrahman bin Saud - may God have mercy on him - through the program about two hours after his passing. I was also the first director of a media center at Asir clubs during the presidency of Abdulwahab bin Mujthil at Abha Club around the year 1420 AH. After the team was promoted to the first division, I prepared a booklet about the promotion titled "Abha... History... Uniqueness and Achievement," which was distributed at the promotion ceremony attended by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, and I had the honor of presenting the speech ceremony as well. I worked as an internal announcer at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Mahala for 33 years, about 20 of which I spent as a volunteer. Thank God, I was honored with a documentary film made about me by the Ministry of Sports, published on the ministry's social media sites in its fourth episode as one of the oldest athletes in the Kingdom.
• During your work in these various places, there must have been embarrassing situations that happened to you... Tell us about the most notable ones.
•• There are many embarrassing situations, but the most notable was when the Roshan League anthem was played instead of the national anthem, and the issue was quickly rectified. The Undersecretary of the Ministry, the tournament director, and the director of the ministry branch were present in the control room, even though the work was not originally our responsibility.
As for the second situation, it is well known that there are no restrooms in the central area of the Al-Mahala stadium, and the stadium was crowded with fans, which forced me during halftime to go down to the main platform and use the facilities there. However, I was surprised that one of the officials who attended (delegated) from the ministry directed that I be prevented from using those facilities, even though I had spent half my life volunteering in Al-Mahala!
• It is said that you were friends with sports commentators... Tell us about this friendship.
•• My relationship with sports commentators began during the Friendship Tournaments, where any commentator arriving at the stadium would find everything ready for him, even though that was not my responsibility; I even brought tea and coffee from my home. In one match, the Moroccan commentator Mohamed Hussein attended for the first time, and when I welcomed him and handed him the teams' lineup, he said: "You must be Ali Jabali?!" I asked: "How did you know?" He replied: "I contacted Fahd Al-Otaibi and told him I was going to Abha, and he said you would find the best person working in the sports stadium waiting for you and mentioned your name!"
As for the funny situation, it was with another commentator who was close to Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. He called me and said: "Please prepare the lineup for me." I replied: "I am in Abha." He said: "I know, but you spoiled us!"
• You worked in internal broadcasting for 30 years; why did you leave it?!
•• I have financial dues for 43 matches from the years 37 to 39 AH that have not been paid, and yet I decided to leave because I was searching for my dignity!
• How do you see the sports clubs in Asir?
•• We are still pleased with the presence of Damak Club in the Roshan League, and we await the return of Abha, the promotion of Jarash, and the rest of the clubs to higher divisions.
• Sports journalism in Asir is noticeably absent from the scene; why?
•• I do not know the reasons; it may be a shortcoming from the media centers. Additionally, modern social media has contributed to this, as anyone can copy from their phone and send and publish. Moreover, media talents are very scarce, and I truly feel "pity" for journalism when I hear or read questions posed by some who are unfortunate in the sports field!
• The recent elections at Abha Sports Club had significant momentum in the past weeks... How does a sports journalist like Ali Jabali read them?
•• There should be a reconsideration of the system of general assemblies; it is not fair for one of the candidates to buy the chair with his money and for a competent person to leave due to the game of money in voting. As for Abha Club, the coming days will reveal what was raised about the votes of lawyer Majid Al-Zahrani and about the contracting company that will deal with the club over the next four years. Personally, I wish success to my brother Saad Hamid, his deputy Ali Al-Qasimi, and their management, and I hope the team returns to the Roshan League again.
• You have made significant efforts in the sports of the Asir region, particularly in the Al-Ma'a region... Yet your name is absent today in many activities and fields... Why?
•• Regarding Asir sports, thank God, I enjoy great appreciation and respect wherever I go. The last of this appreciation was at the final of the Al-Sarhan Tournament, which was attended by the director of the Ministry of Sports branch, Fahd Al-Hantoum, where I received great praise and appreciation from him personally and from other athletes.
As for Al-Ma'a sports, it is another story. You know that I am one of the founders of Al-Ma'a Club and several teams there. However, I have been ignored from any invitation to all the club's events and matches, including the founding ceremony. I might find an excuse for the club president (Fayyad Al-Hayani) since he did not play in the club and did not know anything about the club until its approval, and he had the honor of being the first president of Al-Ma'a Club after its approval. However, the blame lies with some members whom I trained in Kazma and in Al-Ma'a, and yet they ignored me for the sake of council membership or a training salary! For your information, Al-Ma'a Club was in the third division at its founding and is currently in the fourth. You can imagine that the vice president of Al-Musayf Club sent me an invitation to attend his team's match against Al-Ma'a!
And if there is any gratitude, it is to the members of the Kifah team, as they are loyal despite the short period I trained their team.
• What solutions do you see as suitable for promoting Al-Ma'a Club to higher divisions?
•• Renewal is necessary, and the ministry's regulations (to my knowledge) do not allow any administration to continue for more than 8 years, and the region is full of qualified competencies.
• Students in sports journalism learned the basics of sports journalism on the breaths of Ali Jabali... Have these people forgotten you today after they grew up?
•• Thanks to God Almighty, I played a significant role in the emergence of more than 15 journalists from Asir and beyond. Unfortunately, some who move between satellite channels now do not answer phone calls, and some have grown older but still send me asking for question formulations for interviews or press conferences!
• How does a sports journalist like Ali Jabali, who is still following and attached to the field, view the future of Abha Sports Club with its new and elected management by a large margin of votes?
•• I wish them success and a return to the Premier League. As for the margin of votes that occurred in the last assembly, it is, as I mentioned earlier, due to a flaw in the current assembly system. I met brother Saad Hamid after the assembly, and he confirmed to me that the votes of Majid Aidan Al-Zahrani were what tipped the scale in his favor. Al-Ahmari has good experience, and God willing, he will bring the first team back to the Roshan League.
• What about your experience with refereeing?
•• I reached the first division in football refereeing and was appointed as a member of the referees committee for 5 years, during which I contributed to the emergence of several referees and their reaching the Premier League, and Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani obtaining the international badge despite the fierce opposition I faced in the committee after the renewal I implemented and succeeded in.
Today, my son Yazid is a third-degree assistant referee and one of the distinguished assistants at the national level in youth sectors. My prayers for him are that he will, God willing, be one of the referees of the 2034 World Cup, which we are happy to host in this great country, and he is also a student in the media department.
• You had an experience as a FIFA-certified player agent... Tell us about this experience.
•• I worked as a FIFA-certified player agent, and a player intermediary after the title was changed, and I still practice the work intermittently after some regulations and systems were changed.
Captain Saleh Al-Mohammadi was the holder of contract number (1) after my accreditation from FIFA, along with Ali Atif, Ahmed Muflih, Abdullah Rasan, and some foreign players and coaches!
Although there are those who envy us as player agents for obtaining good amounts, we also face significant losses and delays from players, coaches, and club presidents. Personally, I have 90,000 riyals owed to me by one club president, and another club president left the presidency with 15,000 riyals owed to him. Additionally, an Arab coach currently coaching in Roshan has delayed me for 4,000 riyals for 10 years until today, even though I introduced him to the Saudi league in the broadest way, and I have 3,000 riyals owed to me by another player. For these reasons, many intermediaries have completely left the field!
• Any final words?
•• Thank you to "Okaz" for this wonderful space and precious time.
• Are you absent or sidelined from sports media today?
•• I am absent by personal choice after the rapid pace of social media and the acceleration of time, which made most news and events become "cut" and "paste" among social media platforms. Additionally, with age advancing, I have spent more than a quarter of a century moving between several print newspapers, starting with Al-Madina and ending with Al-Riyadiyah.
• You were a bold journalist; what did you gain from sports journalism?
•• Thanks to God, I had a well-known presence, and I conducted prominent interviews in Al-Riyadiyah with many, but the most notable was my interview with two presidents who succeeded each other at one club. Due to some accusations that arose in the two interviews, each of them filed a lawsuit against the other, and legal rulings were issued for imprisonment and apology in those cases after these interviews. I was, thank God, documenting everything, and this documentation helped me when the court requested evidence.
• Did you work in other places related to sports besides print journalism?
•• Yes, I worked as an analyst with Saudi sports channels to analyze the first division league, and I served as a Saudi correspondent for a sports radio program on "mbc," which was presented by the Moroccan Mohamed Ben Thabet. Coincidentally, I was the first to announce the news of the death of Prince Abdulrahman bin Saud - may God have mercy on him - through the program about two hours after his passing. I was also the first director of a media center at Asir clubs during the presidency of Abdulwahab bin Mujthil at Abha Club around the year 1420 AH. After the team was promoted to the first division, I prepared a booklet about the promotion titled "Abha... History... Uniqueness and Achievement," which was distributed at the promotion ceremony attended by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, and I had the honor of presenting the speech ceremony as well. I worked as an internal announcer at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Mahala for 33 years, about 20 of which I spent as a volunteer. Thank God, I was honored with a documentary film made about me by the Ministry of Sports, published on the ministry's social media sites in its fourth episode as one of the oldest athletes in the Kingdom.
• During your work in these various places, there must have been embarrassing situations that happened to you... Tell us about the most notable ones.
•• There are many embarrassing situations, but the most notable was when the Roshan League anthem was played instead of the national anthem, and the issue was quickly rectified. The Undersecretary of the Ministry, the tournament director, and the director of the ministry branch were present in the control room, even though the work was not originally our responsibility.
As for the second situation, it is well known that there are no restrooms in the central area of the Al-Mahala stadium, and the stadium was crowded with fans, which forced me during halftime to go down to the main platform and use the facilities there. However, I was surprised that one of the officials who attended (delegated) from the ministry directed that I be prevented from using those facilities, even though I had spent half my life volunteering in Al-Mahala!
• It is said that you were friends with sports commentators... Tell us about this friendship.
•• My relationship with sports commentators began during the Friendship Tournaments, where any commentator arriving at the stadium would find everything ready for him, even though that was not my responsibility; I even brought tea and coffee from my home. In one match, the Moroccan commentator Mohamed Hussein attended for the first time, and when I welcomed him and handed him the teams' lineup, he said: "You must be Ali Jabali?!" I asked: "How did you know?" He replied: "I contacted Fahd Al-Otaibi and told him I was going to Abha, and he said you would find the best person working in the sports stadium waiting for you and mentioned your name!"
As for the funny situation, it was with another commentator who was close to Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. He called me and said: "Please prepare the lineup for me." I replied: "I am in Abha." He said: "I know, but you spoiled us!"
• You worked in internal broadcasting for 30 years; why did you leave it?!
•• I have financial dues for 43 matches from the years 37 to 39 AH that have not been paid, and yet I decided to leave because I was searching for my dignity!
• How do you see the sports clubs in Asir?
•• We are still pleased with the presence of Damak Club in the Roshan League, and we await the return of Abha, the promotion of Jarash, and the rest of the clubs to higher divisions.
• Sports journalism in Asir is noticeably absent from the scene; why?
•• I do not know the reasons; it may be a shortcoming from the media centers. Additionally, modern social media has contributed to this, as anyone can copy from their phone and send and publish. Moreover, media talents are very scarce, and I truly feel "pity" for journalism when I hear or read questions posed by some who are unfortunate in the sports field!
• The recent elections at Abha Sports Club had significant momentum in the past weeks... How does a sports journalist like Ali Jabali read them?
•• There should be a reconsideration of the system of general assemblies; it is not fair for one of the candidates to buy the chair with his money and for a competent person to leave due to the game of money in voting. As for Abha Club, the coming days will reveal what was raised about the votes of lawyer Majid Al-Zahrani and about the contracting company that will deal with the club over the next four years. Personally, I wish success to my brother Saad Hamid, his deputy Ali Al-Qasimi, and their management, and I hope the team returns to the Roshan League again.
• You have made significant efforts in the sports of the Asir region, particularly in the Al-Ma'a region... Yet your name is absent today in many activities and fields... Why?
•• Regarding Asir sports, thank God, I enjoy great appreciation and respect wherever I go. The last of this appreciation was at the final of the Al-Sarhan Tournament, which was attended by the director of the Ministry of Sports branch, Fahd Al-Hantoum, where I received great praise and appreciation from him personally and from other athletes.
As for Al-Ma'a sports, it is another story. You know that I am one of the founders of Al-Ma'a Club and several teams there. However, I have been ignored from any invitation to all the club's events and matches, including the founding ceremony. I might find an excuse for the club president (Fayyad Al-Hayani) since he did not play in the club and did not know anything about the club until its approval, and he had the honor of being the first president of Al-Ma'a Club after its approval. However, the blame lies with some members whom I trained in Kazma and in Al-Ma'a, and yet they ignored me for the sake of council membership or a training salary! For your information, Al-Ma'a Club was in the third division at its founding and is currently in the fourth. You can imagine that the vice president of Al-Musayf Club sent me an invitation to attend his team's match against Al-Ma'a!
And if there is any gratitude, it is to the members of the Kifah team, as they are loyal despite the short period I trained their team.
• What solutions do you see as suitable for promoting Al-Ma'a Club to higher divisions?
•• Renewal is necessary, and the ministry's regulations (to my knowledge) do not allow any administration to continue for more than 8 years, and the region is full of qualified competencies.
• Students in sports journalism learned the basics of sports journalism on the breaths of Ali Jabali... Have these people forgotten you today after they grew up?
•• Thanks to God Almighty, I played a significant role in the emergence of more than 15 journalists from Asir and beyond. Unfortunately, some who move between satellite channels now do not answer phone calls, and some have grown older but still send me asking for question formulations for interviews or press conferences!
• How does a sports journalist like Ali Jabali, who is still following and attached to the field, view the future of Abha Sports Club with its new and elected management by a large margin of votes?
•• I wish them success and a return to the Premier League. As for the margin of votes that occurred in the last assembly, it is, as I mentioned earlier, due to a flaw in the current assembly system. I met brother Saad Hamid after the assembly, and he confirmed to me that the votes of Majid Aidan Al-Zahrani were what tipped the scale in his favor. Al-Ahmari has good experience, and God willing, he will bring the first team back to the Roshan League.
• What about your experience with refereeing?
•• I reached the first division in football refereeing and was appointed as a member of the referees committee for 5 years, during which I contributed to the emergence of several referees and their reaching the Premier League, and Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani obtaining the international badge despite the fierce opposition I faced in the committee after the renewal I implemented and succeeded in.
Today, my son Yazid is a third-degree assistant referee and one of the distinguished assistants at the national level in youth sectors. My prayers for him are that he will, God willing, be one of the referees of the 2034 World Cup, which we are happy to host in this great country, and he is also a student in the media department.
• You had an experience as a FIFA-certified player agent... Tell us about this experience.
•• I worked as a FIFA-certified player agent, and a player intermediary after the title was changed, and I still practice the work intermittently after some regulations and systems were changed.
Captain Saleh Al-Mohammadi was the holder of contract number (1) after my accreditation from FIFA, along with Ali Atif, Ahmed Muflih, Abdullah Rasan, and some foreign players and coaches!
Although there are those who envy us as player agents for obtaining good amounts, we also face significant losses and delays from players, coaches, and club presidents. Personally, I have 90,000 riyals owed to me by one club president, and another club president left the presidency with 15,000 riyals owed to him. Additionally, an Arab coach currently coaching in Roshan has delayed me for 4,000 riyals for 10 years until today, even though I introduced him to the Saudi league in the broadest way, and I have 3,000 riyals owed to me by another player. For these reasons, many intermediaries have completely left the field!
• Any final words?
•• Thank you to "Okaz" for this wonderful space and precious time.