Al-Ahli Coach Marino Pusic Calls Late Training Session After Al-Khaleej Match Is Postponed
Al-Ahli head coach Marino Pusic has moved quickly to adjust his team’s preparations after the club’s Roshn Saudi League meeting with Al-Khaleej was postponed by 24 hours. The fixture, originally scheduled for Thursday at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, will now take place on Friday after travel problems disrupted Al-Khaleej’s plans.
The change came on matchday, leaving both teams with little time to reorganize their schedules. According to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Pusic responded by arranging an additional evening training session for his Al-Ahli players on Thursday. The Dutch coach wants the squad to remain focused and prepared despite the unexpected delay.
Travel problems force a late fixture change
The Roshn League announced that the game had been moved after logistical difficulties prevented Al-Khaleej’s delegation from flying from Dammam to Jeddah as planned. With the visiting team unable to reach the match venue on time, league officials shifted the contest to Friday.
Such changes can complicate preparations for both sides. A team’s training schedule, recovery routine, meals and travel arrangements are usually planned around a fixed kickoff. When a fixture is postponed at short notice, coaching staff must quickly decide whether players should train, rest or follow a revised matchday routine.
For Al-Ahli, the adjustment was particularly relevant because the squad had already completed what was expected to be its final training session on Wednesday. Pusic now faces the task of keeping his players sharp without placing unnecessary strain on them before an important league match.
Pusic balances preparation and player fitness
Pusic’s decision to call an evening session reflects the need to maintain rhythm after the schedule change. If players had gone directly from Wednesday’s final practice to Friday’s match without any further work, the coaching staff might have been concerned about a loss of sharpness. At the same time, an intense session so close to kickoff could affect freshness and recovery.
The additional practice is therefore likely to focus on controlled preparation rather than a demanding workout. Coaches often use sessions before a match to review tactical details, rehearse set pieces and confirm positioning, while limiting the physical load. That approach can help players stay mentally engaged and reinforce the plan without increasing the risk of fatigue.
For Al-Ahli, the extra session also offers an opportunity to reset after a disrupted day. Players can review their responsibilities against Al-Khaleej, work through possible scenarios and adapt to the revised kickoff schedule. In a tightly contested league, those small details can matter, particularly when a team is trying to build momentum and close the gap on the leaders.
Al-Ahli’s league position adds importance to the match
Al-Ahli enter the fixture in fifth place in the Saudi Pro League standings with 18 points. They are seven points behind table-toppers Al-Qadsiah, although Al-Ahli have played one fewer match. That game in hand gives Pusic’s side an opportunity to improve its position, but the team will need to turn that advantage into points.
The league table makes the Al-Khaleej encounter significant for more than just the immediate result. A victory could help Al-Ahli strengthen their place among the leading clubs and maintain pressure on the teams above them. Dropping points, by contrast, could make the gap harder to reduce as the season progresses.
Al-Khaleej will also arrive with their own ambitions and will be keen to make the most of the rescheduled match. The delay may have disrupted their travel plans, but it does not change the competitive stakes. Once the game begins, both teams will have to put the off-field interruption aside and focus on execution.
What to watch in Friday’s Roshn League clash
The late change makes preparation and concentration key talking points ahead of Friday’s kickoff. Al-Ahli will want to start with intensity, control possession and create chances, while avoiding the kind of errors that can allow an opponent to settle into the game. Pusic’s tactical choices and the fitness of his players will be closely watched after the compressed preparation schedule.
Al-Khaleej’s ability to recover from the travel disruption could also influence the contest. The visitors may need to manage their energy carefully, particularly if the journey and revised arrangements affected their normal routine. However, a change in schedule does not automatically favor the home side: the match may ultimately be decided by discipline, defensive organization and the quality of chances created.
Any football prediction for this fixture should take the circumstances into account without treating the postponement as a guarantee of an Al-Ahli advantage. The home side have the stronger incentive to collect points given their position and their game in hand, but Al-Khaleej can still pose a challenge if they defend compactly and make effective use of counterattacks or set pieces.
A short delay, but no change to Al-Ahli’s objective
The postponement has forced Pusic to revise his plans at the last minute, but Al-Ahli’s objective remains clear: prepare efficiently and secure a positive result. His decision to bring the players together for an evening session shows how quickly the coaching staff have responded to the change, while also highlighting the fine balance between maintaining match sharpness and protecting player fitness.
With Al-Ahli fifth on 18 points and still holding a game in hand, Friday’s meeting with Al-Khaleej represents an important chance to keep their league campaign moving in the right direction. The extra day may offer more time to prepare, but it also demands flexibility from both teams. Supporters can expect a contest shaped not only by tactics and individual quality, but by how effectively each side adapts to an unexpected change in the schedule.
