INTERVIEW: ABDULLAH OTAYF

BAND OF BROTHERS

THE YOUNGEST OF THE FIVE OTAYF FOOTBALL BROTHERS, ABDULLAH OTAYF IS LOOKING TO STAMP HIS MARK ON THE SAUDI SCENE WITH THE 2015 AFC ASIAN CUP IN AUSTRALIA ON THE HORIZON.

By: Daniel Pordes • Photos: World Sport Group

AFC QUARTERLY 35 INTERVIEW: ABDULLAH OTAYF

hen it comes to Although the family has their roots “So, Ahmed was often the goalkeeper naming footballing in Jazan, a port city in the southwest in our team – he was pretty good! As the brothers, many will corner of Saudi Arabia, they moved to the oldest he had to be more responsible and cite the legendary pair country’s capital, Riyadh, at the beginning protect the younger brothers. Sometimes of Jack and Bobby of the 1990s where first Saqer and then the opponents were big and strong and he Charlton, Brian and Abdullah were born and raised. wouldn’t let me and Saqer play in case we Michael Laudrup, His father, Ibrahim, took work as a taxi got hurt and cried.” current stars like Yaya driver, the sole bread-winner for a family However, with Ibrahim’s meagre salary Wand Kolo Toure or perhaps twins Fabio and that included his wife Mariam and 13 being spread so thin amongst his family, Rafael Da Silva of Manchester United, while children made up of eight sons and five he was less than content to see his in Asia Phil and James Younghusband boast daughters. sons wasting their time playing football over 110 caps between them for the Philippines “When I played football as a child in the and insisted on their schooling taking national team. precedence. But in the Middle East and, Three sons heeded their in particular, Saudi Arabia, father’s wishes and Yahiya and Otayf is the name with Ahmed, Fawaz are now doctors, while Abdoh, Ali, Saqer and Abdullah Mohammed is a policeman. members of that particular But the football-mad footballing fraternity. fivesome, in particular Abdoh, Ahmed and Abdoh are the were not quite ready to give up oldest of the quintet and the on the game. most lauded, with caps for “My father came to us and the national side and Saudi asked us, and then ordered us, league championships accrued to stop playing football. He was with domestic and continental angry if we went to play. He powerhouse Al Shabab. didn’t want us to stop studying. Ali, too, has played in Asia’s He wanted us to get good jobs premier tournament, the AFC in the future,” says Abdullah. Champions League, alongside “But we didn’t want to stop his brothers at Al Shabab while, playing, especially as Abdoh after two years plying his trade had been trying out for clubs overseas, Saqer has returned to without our father knowing. The his homeland and is considered first one he had tried out with a striker with much promise. was Al Hilal when he was only But younger brother Abdullah 13 years old, but the coach could turn out to be the greatest of them all streets of Riyadh I didn’t think anything had told him he was too young and wasn’t with the 21-year-old midfielder on the verge of about going to a club in the future, but I needed.” breaking into the senior Saudi Arabia team with would play with my brothers for five to six Abdoh persisted despite his father’s the 2015 AFC Asian Cup just around the corner hours, no problem,” says Abdullah. wishes, and at the age of 17 he was having featured across all age groups at youth “We were a very good team. When accepted into the ranks of Al Shabab and, level. we played together we were unbeatable. without knowing the seeds he was about to But Abdullah’s career path could have taken Although, sometimes my brothers did try sow, his coach casually asked him whether a very different course if it was not for the help to make me go in goal. They said to me, he had any brothers who might be interested of his brothers and, in particular, the rebellious ‘Oh the youngest, he must go in goal,’ but I to play as well. Top Left Ahmed Otayf Bottom Left Ahmed Otayf (6) and “The first month was very difficult; Abdoh Otayf (15) at the 2011 AFC bdoh Otayf actions of Abdoh several years ago. said, ‘No, no way!’ “And when Abdoh came home with the Above A Asian Cup we could only really speak a little bit money he received from Al Shabab, rather Bottom Right Ali Otayf of Portuguese. But we stayed with the than be angry my father said, ‘Oh, actually manager’s family and they supported us it’s a good job. OK, you can take Ahmed with doctors!’ ” and took us to many places when we you to try, too,’ ” says Abdullah. Thanks to Abdoh, the five brothers were had time off. And his daughter helped us Ahmed also flourished at the club, and united at Al Shabab as they had been in the to learn the language,” said Abdullah. when Ali turned 16 he was next to join Al streets of the capital. “The experience with the team Shabab along with a 12-year-old Saqer and But after Abdullah had worked his way itself was also strange, but in a good a 10-year-old Abdullah. through the youth set-up and at 18 was on the way: everything was so professional. Two years after the youngest Otayf verge of the first team squad and “his dream” of Everything was clearly structured. had joined the Riyadh side’s development playing alongside his siblings, the Otayfs began “And I learned many things at the squad, the oldest duo, Ahmed and Abdoh, to part ways. club, especially how to play at speed. were household names as members of the In June 2011, Abdoh joined Al Ittihad, and In the Saudi League, it’s quite slow. But 2003/2004 Saudi league championship- three months later, Ali was signed by Al Raed. in Portugal everything is played at pace winning side. While Ahmed remained at Al Shabab, Abdullah, with many counterattacks.” And with new income coming in from his along with Saqer, decided on a move further Abdullah’s European efforts did not sons, Ibrahim was able to stop driving a taxi afield after failing to come to agreeable terms go unnoticed by the national team and and started a business instead. on a professional contract with the Riyadh club. at the start of December 2012 aged “So many things changed with my father,” The following summer the two youngest 20; he won his first senior cap against says Abdullah. “He said as long we trained Otayfs, with the help of a Brazilian-born Saudi Iraq at the 2012 WAFF Championship hard, worked hard, and gave money to our agent, went for trials and were accepted by becoming the youngest of his brothers to mother and sisters, then it was alright to play Portuguese third division side Louletano. represent Saudi Arabia. football. Although Abdullah found the new Personal success at the tournament, “I actually asked him at one point, ‘Why environment a bit of a culture shock, he with his first goal for the national team are we all so good at football?’ and he was helped by a homestay with the team’s coming against Yemen in the side’s replied, ‘I’ve no idea, I wanted you to become manager. second fixture, meant that it was he, not

AFC QUARTERLY 37 INTERVIEW: ABDULLAH OTAYF

his more experienced brothers, who was then “When you walk onto the field you forget selected in new coach Juan Ramon Lopez that’s your brother you’re coming up against,” Caro’s squad for the important 2015 AFC says Abdullah. Asian Cup qualifier against China in February “You will still tackle hard and play strongly – 2013 as the Green Falcons secured a crucial maybe even a bit extra strong! Because when I 2-1 victory. come home, if we win, I can laugh at him!” His performances with the national team The move back home will also, Abdullah meant more consistent game time with hopes, help keep him firmly in the mind of Louletano, and with his stock in his homeland Lopez Caro ahead of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup soaring, a year after he had left, a return to having already captained his side at the 2010 Saudi Arabia and his family beckoned with Al AFC U-19 Championship and, 2011 FIFA U-20 Hilal. World Cup before helping Saudi Arabia reach “When I was in Portugal many clubs were the final of the 2014 AFC U-22 Championship. Abdullah Otayf talking to me and tried to make a contract. My And after Abdoh and Ahmed appeared in the father was always telling me you must come 2011 edition in Qatar, it is likely that Abdullah Nationality: back, you are still young. Come back to Saudi will not be alone in Australia with Ahmed Saudi Arabia Arabia to be with your family,” says Abdullah. amongst the goals for Al Shabab, while Abdoh’s “In fact, my family didn’t want me to go at Al Nassr won the 2013/14 domestic title. DOB: all - I had to argue a little bit with my father - Ali, however, suffered an ACL injury at the 3/8/1992 but I wanted to go outside Saudi Arabia and end of 2013 and a long lay-off is expected, explore the world. while Saqer has yet to break into the national Position: “But within my family, as Muslims, we have set-up. Midfielder to marry early, so I decided to return home. Al “It would be a dream to play with two, three or Hilal were the most serious with the contract even four brothers in Australia. I wouldn’t even Current club: offer and, for me, Al Hilal are the best club mind which one of them sets me up for goals Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, even though Al Shabab are either - as long as we win!” says Abdullah. very good – even my parents agreed that Al “All of my brothers support me to be the best (Saudi Arabia) Hilal would be the best option.” player because I am the youngest, they all tell Re-joining the Saudi league also meant me, ‘You have to work hard, because you are in Previous clubs: being reunited with his brothers with Abdoh the national team now and it’s a good chance Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia) now at Al Nassr, Ali at Al Ettifaq, and Saqer for you to be the best in Asia.’ at Al Shabab alongside Ahmed having also “But before becoming the best in Asia, I wish Louletano (Portugal) returned from Louletano. to become the most famous Otayf!”

AFC QUARTERLY 39