Al-Ahli Trounces Newly Founded CALES United

Hello All,

I finished writing my article for the magazine about the football match yesterday. I had to do it at the internet cafe so it probably isn't a masterful piece of literature but it is quite humorous. I actually have a ton of Arabic work to do today for class tomorrow because I spent my weekend playing football, watching wedding dances and going to a sketchy Russian bar on the outskirts of town (yes...you can find a place to drink in Yemen), so I'm not going to update the blog at this time. Below though is the article I wrote for the magazine. I hope you enjoy it. This represents the beginning of my career as a freelance journalist in the Middle East, haha.

Local Club Al-Ahli F.C. Trounces International Contingent

Yesterday afternoon, Al–Ahli, Sanaa's local football club, scored a smashing victory over the newly founded CALES United (Center for Arabic Language and Eastern Studies). The match was played at Al-Ahli stadium under the afternoon sun with a crowd of three hundred voracious spectators in attendance. The game was very close at 2-1 through sixty minutes before the CALES United players' lack of fitness caught up with them. In the closing minutes of the match, the skill and conditioning of Al-Ahli F.C. was too much for the international contingent of CALES to handle, evidenced by Al-Ahli F.C's five goals in the last twenty minutes of the match. 

The game started off with a bang when CALES defender, Ryan Terry, knocked down Al-Ahli's captain in the box. In a questionable decision the referee granted Al-Ahli a penalty which their captain Abdullah Azizi tucked away past the outstretched hands of the Danish goalkeeper. Al-Ahli F.C. put away another goal shortly before the whistle blew for half-time.

After the break, CALES United came out strong, rejuvenated by orange drink and a motivational speech by Coach/Goalkeeper Tommy. It looked like the tide was turning when CALES's French attacking mid-fielder Guillam was taken down inside the box, warranting his side with a penalty that American Richard Heffron placed neatly into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Unfortunately, CALES's lone goal proved to be the highlight of the match for the international contingent.

Shortly after CALES United's penalty, Al-Ahli F.C. superior fitness became apparent as they dissected the tired and forlorn CALES players scoring six goals in the closing minutes. The onslaught of goals was pioneered by the Al-Ahli F.C. captain who notched three more goals in addition to his penalty in the first half. CALES United could not muster a second wind, though it must be noted that they went down fighting in only their second match ever since their creation two weeks ago. CALES United was also hindered by the absence of defensive midfielder Callum Llundberg who suffered a groin pull in the team's last match.

CALES United captain Benjamin Hanna has already demanded a rematch, stating that: "With a few weeks practice and fitness training, I believe the score would be reversed in our favor." Until a date and time for a rematch are set, the fans will have to patiently wait for the next clash between the local favorites and the upstart foreign footballing students.

On a side note, CALES United's foundation was a banner event in the history of the language school located on Az-Zummar Street in Old Sana'a. It is the school's first ever football team and brings together a vast array of young international students from all corners of the globe. Among the countries represented are: England, America, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, China, Latvia, and France. Over time, and with much more practice and conditioning, CALES United might just become quite a

         1-2 — Final
Al-Ahli: 2 6     8
CALES:   0 1     1


-Written by Richard Heffron, CALES United team member and Student of Arabic at the Center for Arabic and Eastern Studies