He affirmed his full support for the candidate who will be chosen by the General Assembly and the club’s members, expressing his preference to give an opportunity for new leadership to continue the path of excellence.
In a message posted on his account on platform “X”, he extended his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and to His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz — may God protect them — for their continuous and unprecedented support for the sports and youth sector. He described it as historic and unmatched, saying: “It allowed us to dream bigger and achieve goals, drawing strength from a leader whose ambition knows no bounds. With determination as unshakable as Mount Tuwaiq, our sports scene has written a new history and directed the world’s attention toward the Kingdom — with eye-catching sports, unrivaled competitiveness, and achievements that history continues to document.”
He added that Al-Hilal, the nation’s representative, was among the first to gain the benefits of this support, through its honorable participation in four editions of the FIFA Club World Cup and by winning two AFC Champions League titles, standing as a testament to the impact of wise leadership on sporting excellence.
Bin Nafel also thanked the Minister of Sports, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal — may God protect him — for his tremendous efforts in developing the sports system, strengthening governance, and raising the level of professionalism in line with the leadership’s vision and aspirations.
He acknowledged the role of His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal — may God protect him — describing him as the iconic blue-loving supporter and a historic backer. He noted that Prince Alwaleed’s support to his administration exceeded 1.5 billion riyals and recalled his constant presence behind Al-Hilal. He cited Prince Alwaleed’s famous words: “Al-Hilal… forever,” and “Kingdom Holding… all my companies… and I myself will stand behind Al Hilal to lead it to continental, then global, success with the support of our leadership,” adding also, “Al-Hilal..? It’s always: ‘You got it!’” — not merely words, but actions etched in achievements and passed down through generations.
Fahad Bin Nafel expressed deep appreciation for both former and current board members of Al-Hilal, valuing their efforts. He also thanked the Public Investment Fund staff for their leading role in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, by creating a sustainable sports economy and enhancing infrastructure and financial governance.
He extended his gratitude to all current and former male and female Al-Hilal players for their achievements and memorable contributions, emphasizing that history still awaits more glory from them. His thanks also reached every club employee for their dedication and contributions — the foundation of Al-Hilal’s excellence and continued leadership.
President Fahad concluded his statement with a message of love and gratitude to Al-Hilal’s great fans, describing them as the beating heart of the club, the source of its prestige, and the fuel that powered its journey to glory. He said: “You are the compass that sets the direction… you are the flame that lights the lanterns of joy. A boundless sense of belonging… an unrivaled passion… eternal loyalty, these are qualities at Al-Hilal that cannot be bought or sold… they are planted in hearts and grow with gold.”
He added: “You’ve stood with Al-Hilal across continents… from Tokyo to Orlando and everywhere in between. The land belongs to Al Hilal, and the time is its time.” He ended his heartfelt message to the fans of The Leader: “There are emotions in my heart words cannot express. Thank you, each and every one of you… and apologies for any moment that did not live up to what you truly deserve.”
