When you’ve won one of your past nine matches, the last thing you need is to face the league leaders.
Even more so after you’ve also just tasted defeat at the hands of a relegation rival that has seen you slide further into the relegation zone.
But that is exactly what awaits Al Okhdood this weekend when they travel to Jeddah to face the high-flying Al Ittihad. It’s at times like these that you need your leaders to stand up, and at Al Okhdood, there are few more senior than Brazilian midfielder Petros.
This might be the 35-year-old’s first season in Najran, but he arrived last summer with a wealth of experience behind him and as a former champion of the Roshn Saudi League.
That came in the 2018-19 campaign, in his debut season with Al Nassr when the Riyadh giants lifted silverware for the third time in six years. During three years in the capital, Petros also twice captured the Saudi Super Cup, in 2019 and 2020.
Even before the move to Saudi Arabia, he had played for two of Brazil’s most prominent clubs in Corinthians and Sao Paulo, while he also spent two seasons in Spain’s La Liga with Real Betis.
There, he went up against the likes of Lionel Messi and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, who would of course join Al Nassr not too long after Petros departed.
Quite aside from his South American and European experience, Petros is also one of the most experienced foreigners in the RSL having plied his trade in the Kingdom since 2018.
Obviously well assimilated, he describes his almost seven years in Saudi Arabia as “life changing”, last week professing a deep love for the country as it celebrated Founding Day.
“I feel very happy and honored to always be invited to be part of the special dates and important days of this country that I love so much and that has a beautiful culture and history,” Petros shared on Instagram.
“Thank you very much always for everything Saudi Arabia. I am very happy here, your affection and respect for me and my family I try to return with love and respect! I love you Saudi Arabia.”
Through his RSL career, he has taken in a large part of the Kingdom. After three seasons with Al Nassr, Petros traded the bustling capital for the more serene Al Ahsa, where he enjoyed three more campaigns, working under the tutelage of highly respected RSL managers in Slaven Bilic and Georgios Donis.
However, Petros pedigree speaks for itself – by last summer, he had made 131 RSL appearances – so, despite being deep into his professional twilight, he was an important signing for Al Okhdood after they had narrowly survived relegation last season, escaping by a solitary point on the final day.
The club therefore needed someone with heavy experience, strong leadership - Petros has been captain almost everywhere he has played - and quality to lift them from relegation candidates to regular RSL representatives.
Petros was exactly that signing, although it has still been a struggle for Al Okhdood this season.
The arrival last summer of manager Stjepan Tomas did not have the desired effect, with the 48-year-old Croatian recently relieved of his duties after a run of five straight games without a win.
Tunisian Ridha Jeddi stepped in as a caretaker, but it had left the club without a permanent head coach at a critical juncture of the season.
With two defeats since, and sitting second from bottom with 12 rounds remaining, Al Okhdood’s present plight only amplifies the demand for leadership from within the squad, to guide the team on-field during a period that could make or break their campaign.
Outwardly, Petros, who this season fulfils the role as captain, is projecting the right image - and saying the right things.
“We remain strong, even with the difficulties,” he shared on his social media after Al Okhdood's recent loss to Al Ettifaq. “The good times are approaching!”
Most certainly, Al Okhdood need that strength more than ever with a tough six weeks coming up, beginning with the trip to face Al Ittihad on Sunday. After that, only once in their following five do they take on a side currently in the bottom half of the table.
There are clashes against Al Riyadh (7th), Al Ahli (4th), Al Taawoun (8th) and Al Shabab (6th) either side of a meeting with a resurgent Al Orobah (13th) who, with RSL record-holder Omar Al Somah in their ranks and in form, have won three of their past four. It’s an unenvious schedule indeed.
This, though, is when certain characters come to the fore, and that is undeniably what is required of Petros. To be fair, he isn’t having a poor season when looking at the raw numbers, with most of his key indicators roughly the same as his last full season with Al Fateh.
Petros ranks first for passes at the club (945), with an accuracy slightly above 89 percent and with more recoveries (110) than any other Al Okhdood player. Meanwhile, he also sits third for chances created (20), which is impressive given his remit as a more defensive midfielder.
Of course, turning around Al Okhdood's fortunes lies with more than just one player, but as the captain there is always added burden and responsibility that comes with sporting the armband.
For sure, Petros is a player who has experienced most in football. Whether it’s facing Messi and Ronaldo in their prime, winning the RSL with Al Nassr, or surviving one of the all-time epic relegation battles in 2020-21 in his first season with Al Fateh.
It’s that knowledge and knowhow that Al Okhdood now need to draw upon, as they fight for their lives over the remaining months of the campaign.
