Anatomy of a champion: Wehdat

Winning the League, the Jordan Cup, the Shield, and the Super Cup in one season is an unprecedented feat in the history of Jordanian football. Wehdat continue to live the dream football season.

Coaching
In a footballseason when every other Jordanian club fired their headcoach at least once, Iraqi boss Akram Salman successfully managed a team that was fighting on multiple fronts all year. Salman will meet with the Wehdat management to discuss his future with the team on May 17th, and he hinted that he would like to return. The role of assistant coach and former Wehdat star Jamal Mahmoud shouldn’t be underestimated, though. A future boss?

Veteran leadership
At 29, Mahmood Shilbayyeh remains one of the most dangerous strikers in Jordan, despite mounting injury problems. Faisal Ibrahim, 32, and  Haitham Simrin, 33, continue to lead the back line that allowed the fewest goals in the league. While long-serving striker Ra’fat Ali had an up and down season, he remains one of the most popular Wehdat players ever, and some fans show up just to watch him play.

Goalkeeping
Despite the never-ending antics, the unnecessary theatrics, and sometimes the ridiculously easy goals he allows, Amer Shafee’ (aka The Whale) offered solid and mostly reliable goalkeeping all year. When Shafee’ was inevitably suspended for a few games, youngster Malik Shilbayeh filled in handsomely.

Emerging youth
Striker Amer Abu Howaiti, 20, is one of the most promising Jordanian talents, and a number of teams are said to be trying to lure him away from the Green Fortress. “I started with Wehdat in the under-14 team and I will not play for any other team locally, regardless of the financial offer,” he told reporters in the aftermath of the Cup success over Shabab al-Urdon. Issa Sabbah, 23, Musa Hammad, 24, and Mohammad Dmairi, 22, are among the stars who are just peaking at their respective positions.

The fans
The final game of the Jordanian football season – the Cup Final on April 17th – attracted a crowd of more than 22,000, the overwhelming majority of which were Wehdat fans who had come to celebrate their team’s historic accomplishment. Showing considerable grace and restraint – against extremely provocative behaviour from the fans of other teams –Wehdat fans were another bright spot for a remarkable season. After all, it’s easy to be on your best behaviour when your team
is winning everything in sight.

The next step
A title on the Asian or Arab level – the only accomplishment that Wehdat has historically failed to achieve.
With the team peaking mentally and technically – as evident by the 3-1 win against the Syrian Karameh in the AFC cup just five days after the Cup’s final – there is a big opportunity for the long-awaited regional title to be the icing on the 2009 cake.

Season in Numbers
Played: 38 games
Wins: 26
Tied: 10
Lost: 2
Scored: 67 goals
Against: 18 goals
Biggest win: 5-0, vs Hussein Irbid, March 13th
NB: Had at least one win against every team in the league