Amman — Shabab Al-Aqaba are going through one of the most difficult periods in their history, finding themselves at the bottom of the First Division standings at the end of Round 5 without a single point. The team has lost all five of its opening matches in a troubled start that raises concerns about its future and places significant responsibility on the club’s administration to act quickly before the situation deteriorates and the challenge becomes even more difficult.
اضافة اعلان
Once a participant in the Jordan Pro League, where it enjoyed several notable achievements, the team is now struggling to regain its balance amid difficult financial and technical circumstances. Its current situation calls for practical decisions to restore confidence and competitiveness.
Shabab Al-Aqaba have conceded 12 goals, making them the weakest defensive side among the participating teams, while scoring just four. The figures reflect the scale of the team’s struggles and the need for a comprehensive technical review to address mistakes and restore cohesion within the squad.
Shabab Al-Aqaba were not merely a team fighting to remain among the country’s top clubs. They represented the ambitions of football in southern Jordan, having made a notable impression in the Pro League and competed in challenging matches. The club also reached the Jordan Cup final before losing to Al-Wehdat and finishing as runners-up in 2022. That achievement remains evidence of what the club can accomplish when stability and the right conditions for sustained work are in place.
However, that picture gradually began to change. The team failed to maintain its place in the Pro League for a seventh consecutive season and was relegated to the First Division two seasons ago. It competed in the division last season amid clear difficulties that nearly resulted in another relegation, before securing its survival in the final week.
Now, the team faces another challenge: regaining stability and avoiding a repeat of its previous struggles, at a time when its results leave little room for further delay.
The situation has renewed questions about the club’s future and its ability to overcome its financial and technical difficulties. Shabab Al-Aqaba represents the city of Aqaba and the southern governorates, carrying responsibility for maintaining a sporting presence in a region that has contributed significantly to Jordanian football.
Shabab Al-Aqaba supporters are awaiting swift administrative decisions to ease their concerns. These could include developing a realistic plan for the coming period, securing funding sources, opening channels of communication with the local community, maintaining technical and administrative stability, and providing the necessary resources for training and day-to-day operations.
The team is coached by Riyad Al-Daqas, who is working under considerable pressure amid clear difficulties. Since taking charge, Al-Daqas has understood that the task would not be easy, given the strength of the competition and the narrow differences in quality between teams. Nevertheless, he is relying on team spirit and the players’ determination to prove themselves.
The coaching staff’s ability to find solutions, boost morale and address defensive and attacking weaknesses will be crucial in determining the team’s direction in the coming period.
One advantage for Shabab Al-Aqaba is that they play a significant number of their matches at home. This could help them recover positive results, particularly because the players are familiar with the stadium and can benefit from home advantage and crowd support. However, this advantage must translate into results on the pitch through improved performances, better finishing and fewer mistakes that have cost the team points in previous rounds.
The squad currently consists of 22 players, including goalkeeper Anas Al-Khalayleh, Ibrahim Al-Ruwad, Hossam Jaber, Mahmoud Mishal, Suhaib Abu Al-Ezz, Amir Al-Jawabreh, Khaled Al-Asouli, Adnan Al-Khatib, Assem Abu Al-Teen, Mohammad Manasrah, Assem Al-Ashoush, Reda Mohammad, Ibrahim Al-Khawaldeh, Moataz Al-Nuwaisheh, Shahdeh Al-Khumaisah, Saad Maabreh, Ammar Abu Asia, Ahmad Ghazal, Ahmad Abdullah, Muhannad Al-Aramshah, Ihab Al-Kabarti and Muhannad Al-Bardini.
Supporter Mohammar Al-Riyati believes the club’s administration must take serious action to secure resources, particularly in light of the team’s poor results at the start of the season. He noted that losing five consecutive matches without earning a point calls for a comprehensive review of the reasons behind the decline.
“The team has a good history and previously delivered strong performances in the Pro League, reaching the Jordan Cup final. What is happening now requires practical action to address mistakes and provide stability for the players and coaching staff, so the team can regain its confidence and return to positive results,” he said.
Samir Al-Qusair also stressed the importance of supporting the club.
“Shabab Al-Aqaba represents the city of Aqaba and the people of the south. Maintaining its presence in football competitions requires a collective effort and standing by the club during these difficult circumstances. The team needs sustained support, particularly financially, as this directly affects technical and administrative stability. It is important to establish communication with the local community and supporting bodies, and seek funding sources that can help the club overcome its crisis and regain the standing it achieved in previous years,” he said.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Yahya Qutaishat
