FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Saudi Arabia’s Saeed Al-Owairan, the so-called ‘Desert Maradona’, plans to make up for lost time at the World Cup finals in France.

During an 18-month ban for ‘immoral acts’ under Islamic law reportedly drinking and womanising the talented forward missed his team’s wonderful 1996 Asian Cup victory and their successful campaign for a second consecutive World Cup final berth. There were fears that the elusive, long-striding striker had seen action for the last time but new Saudi Arabia coach Carlos Alberto Parreira picked him in all three matches in the Confederations Cup in Riyadh at the start of the year.

The 1994 Asian Player of the Year took time to re-adjust to the top level but showed flashes of the skill that singled him out as one to watch during the 1994 finals in the United States. His virtuoso strike against Belgium, a 75-metre solo run followed by an unstoppable shot, was rated as the goal of the tournament and it lifted the Saudis into a surprise second-round slot.

Since returning from the lengthy ban, the 30-year-old Owairan has turned in some stirring performances for his club side Al Shabab and has shown a fierce determination to regain full fitness.He has made it clear that he wants to play in another World Cup finals, viewing it as an opportunity to fully rehabilitate himself in the eyes of his fellow players and his countrymen.

Owairan is a man with a mission.