To say it’s been a whirlwind start to Meshari Sunyur’s Roshn Saudi League career would be an understatement.
A graduate of the National Schools League, the Al Raed goalkeeper was handed his RSL debut last month, in Matchweek 1 of the 2024-25 season.
The opponents? Only Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, last term’s runners-up. At their Al Awwal Park.
From the @DawriMadaris league to starring in the #RoshnSaudiLeague! Al Raed hero Meshari Sunyur has been on a journey ⏪🧤 pic.twitter.com/pDvEjMZfNk
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) August 26, 2024
Yet, even at age 22, Sunyur wasn’t bowed by the occasion. Quite the opposite, in fact; he was buoyed by it. The young Saudi Arabian provided a superb display to repel Ronaldo – for the most part, the Al Nassr captain did score the opener – and his illustrious teammates, for Al Raed to seal a point.
The 1-1 draw was one of the shock results of the opening round. Sunyur departed the pitch hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates, his contribution clear. He is head and shoulders, too, above his RSL peers in one early-season stat: another fine display in the albeit-disappointing 1-0 defeat to Al Qadsiah in Matchweek 2 places Sunyur top of charts for most saves, with 12.
The four safest pairs of hands so far this season in the #RoshnSaudiLeague 🧤🧤🧤 pic.twitter.com/Fpll5w2nur
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 9, 2024
As such, he sits out in front of compatriot Abdulraouf Al Duqayl at Al Fayha (nine), new Al Nassr signing Bento (nine) and fellow summer recruit Peter Szappanos of Al Fateh (eight). In Sunyur, manager Odair Hellman may have landed upon a local gem.
