The Jordanian football scene is witnessing a pivotal phase in its history, following the great achievements of the national team, which deserve to be recognized with all due appreciation and respect, including the historic qualification for the World Cup finals, in addition to being runners-up in the Asian Cup and the Arab Cup, results that confirmed that Jordanian football is capable of competing provided there is vision, stability, and support.
It is impossible to talk about these successes without praising the role played by the Jordanian Football Association, and the efforts led by His Highness Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, which have clearly reflected on the national team’s image, whether in terms of organization, technical stability, or honorable presence on the continental and international stage.
These achievements were not a coincidence but were the result of cumulative work and long-term planning. However, maintaining and building upon them requires addressing the current challenges realistically and responsibly.
To this day, the sports stadiums in Jordan are not befitting the reputation of Jordanian football or the scale of its achievements, whether in terms of infrastructure or technical readiness, and this is an issue that must be addressed seriously, due to its direct impact on players, fans, and the image of Jordanian sports in general.
At the same time, Jordanian clubs are suffering from severe financial crises, which have become a significant burden on their administrations, threatening their ability to continue and play their fundamental role in training players and nurturing talents. The clubs, as known, form the real base on which the achievements of the national teams were built and are the primary factory of players who go on to represent the country.
The fear today is not about what has been achieved, but that this achievement might turn into an exceptional case or a temporary surge, if clubs are not supported and enabled properly. A strong national team needs strong clubs, capable of operating within a stable and sustainable environment.
Thus, what is required is not temporary support or interim solutions, but a comprehensive vision based on financially supporting the clubs, administratively and technically equipping them, and helping them transform into sports institutions with real sources of income and investments that guarantee their continuity.
Also, activating sports investment requires clear legislation and laws that encourage companies and institutions to support clubs, through well-considered tax incentives and exemptions, making partnership with the clubs an economically viable option, and contributing to the development of an integrated sports system capable of evolving.
Protecting the achievements of the national team, and maintaining its status, begins with focusing on the clubs, equipping the stadiums, and creating a supportive legislative environment, because football is an interconnected system, where one part cannot succeed in isolation from the other.
Alaa Al-Sadiq
Official Spokesperson for Al-Jazeera Sports Club
