Sheikh Abd El Rahman Bin Saad Bin Saed, a deep-rooted name in the . history of Saudi- Arabian sports. He served it sincerely and devoutly, and had a major role in the progress of the Saudi-Arabian sports. He is considered of the pioneers who practiced sports in Riyadh in 1365 H. He continued to a legend in the sports field since this date till now, though his health problems lately. His remedy was the blue’s team continuous championships that made each Hilaly happy, and at the top of them was the mentor of sportsmen, Abou Mosaad, may God bless him and grant him health and strength. These championships made the entity that Abou Mosaad established in 1377 H. in a position that no team can reach easily, Thank God.
Before all this, the mentor of sportsmen had a big role, in the beginning of his sports career, in founding a youth club in the Hegira sixties. Then he left it to present Al Hilal, to the Saudi-Arabian sports, which was distinguished with its local championships, international titles, and big stars who lead our national varsities, and Al Hilal Club to the stages of crowning.
We are pleased to present the practical and sports autobiography of the gigantic of Saudi- Arabian sports, El Sheikh Abd El Rahman Bin Saed. His autobiography has been recorded by history through the past years, which is recorded with golden ink.
First: The practical autobiography:
1- He worked at the beginning under the name of Lieutenant, with no salary for nearly four months as a training, under the administration of His Eminence Sheikh Abdullah Lengawy (God rest his soul), financial manager of Riyadh, at the end of 1364 H.
2- He was officially appointed as a storage clerk for 50 riyals salary. Then to a miscellaneous clerk for 110 riyals salary. He graded in many and different jobs, till he became at the top of significant employees in the financial department for 420 riyals salary.
3- He moved to the divan of the Crown Prince, Saood Bin Abd El Aziz (God rest his soul), in 1370 H., he took over a number of posts, which the latest was the assistant to the divan chief.
4- A special committee was formed to observe the special works of the divan, and included a large number of divans chiefs, it was named “the special royal committee”. The secretariat post of this committee was given to Mr. Abd El Rahman Bin Saed. After the work of the employees in King Sood’s divan, God rest his soul, was stopped in 1384 H., the employees were transformed to the Ministry of Finance, to distribute them among government districts, and pensioning the oldies.
5- His eminence, Minister of Work and Social Affairs, requested from Mr. Abd El Rahman Aba El Kheil, in the Ministry of Finance, to transfer the services of Abd El Rahman Bin Saed to the Ministry of Work, and so it had been.
6- In the Ministry of Work, Abd El Rahman Bin Saed was assigned to be the branch work office manager in Riyadh (newly established), in order to facilitate the mission of the workers, their affairs, and to gain their rights from companies and organizations, and also to hire those who seek jobs in these authorities. He remained in this job till the public benefit required to close the branch office, and contented with the main office in Riyadh.
7- The Minister gave an order to transfer his work to the main office, and assigned the legal administration to him. The administration included legal counselors in the office, Saudi-Arabian and others.
8- The Minister of Work requested the assistance of Abd El Rahman Bin Saed's sport experience. He issued Decree NO. 23/2 m in 1/2/1390 H., which stipulated the following: " according to the understanding with his highness, General Manager of Youth Care, Prince Khaled El Faisal, to work in the general directorate for youth care, to benefit from his services in the sports field, thus commence your work as of the date thereof, .....etc.)
9- After the appointment of his highness, General Manager of Youth Care, Prince Khaled El Faisal, as Prince of South Region, it was re-decided to assign Abd El Rahman Bin Saed to the Ministry of Work, as a manager of industrial relations department, by virtue of Ministerial Decree No. 295, on 16/4/1391 H.
10- In year 1394 H., he was asked to transfer to the secretariat general, by the Secretariat- General of Cabinet at that time, and was in charge of more than one important and sensitive work, among which:
A- He was entrusted as General Manager of Communications, in the Secretariat-General Cabinet.
B- He worked afterwards as General Manager of Financial Administration and Employees, in the Secretariat-General Cabinet.
C- Afterwards, he was appointed as General Manager for the Ministerial General Committee, which reports to the Cabinet.
D- He was pensioned in 1/7/1413 H., after 47 years of great service, most of it was important, sensitive, confidential, and leading.
Second: The sports autobiography
1- He was assigned in 1365 H. as a member in the employees team, which includes state’s employees in Riyadh City.
2- After nearly two years and three months, he established and headed Riyadh Youth Club for ten years in 1367 H., with a group of best selected employees as administrators.
3- In addition to his presidency of the Youth Club in this era, he established and headed El Etefak Club in Jeddah in 1374 H. It is currently classified as a first class club (two years and a half), and it included a large number of great players.
4- He established and headed Al Hilal Club since its start in 21/3/1377 H., during its first title “the Olympic”. Then the name was changed into Al Hila in 1378 H., corresponding to 21/5/1378 H., by a Royal Decree (fifteen separate years). He lead Al Hilal to the first championship in its history, King’s Club in 1381 H., facing Unity. He also lead it to win the King and Crown Prince's Cup, facing The Unity and The Union in season 1384 H., as the first Saudi- Arabian Club that holds the two titles in one season.
5- He headed El Thaghr Club in Jeddah (currently Al Ahli), then he re-registered and reclassified it in the period of player's transitions in 1378 H. He resigned in 1380 H., during the official register of middle club (nearly two years and half). He lived in Jeddah, in El Sabeel neighborhood, after his official superiors abandoned him.
6- He contributed in the development, build up, and the continuance of many middle region second class clubs in their beginnings. He also supervised a number of them, and helped others, by material and money, to be able to continue.
7- He was assigned as a member in the first sports committee, that was formed by the Minister of Education’s Decree No. 1289 in 27/4/1381 H. The Minister of Education at that time was the supervisor of the sports sector, and sports was one of its administration. The duties of the committee is as follows:
A- Executing the regulations of the in charged authority.
B- Supervising the matches’ management.
C- Looking into the complaints and protests.
D- Suggesting penalties and sanctions.
E- Suggesting the sports programme and projects.
8- He was assigned as a member in the committee formed to choose and pick up the varsity players, by virtue of Letter No. 364, in 5/5/1388 H.
9- He was returned as a member in the sports committee, by Decree No. 923, in 15/9/1382 H.
10 - He was elected by all clubs, as a member representing clubs in the sports committee, to choose the middle region varsity members, by the Letter of His Highness, the General Manager for Youth Care, Prince Khaled El Faisal, under No. 1/62, in 27/2/1389 H.
11- He was appointed as a manager for clubs department, by virtue of the General Manager for Youth Care Letter No. 134, in 14/2/1390 H., after moving from the work office in Riyadh to Youth Care, both of them are included in the departments of the Minister of Work and Social Affairs.
12- After distributing the duties of the five departments on the leaderships of the general administration, the general manager, Prince Khaled El Faisal, issued a generalization under No. 813/1, in 7/10/1390 H., to assign the department of sports affairs in the General Management for Youth to him.
13- A member in the committee forming the participation in the camps of Arab-Moroco League, which was held in Tunisia. He received an appreciation Letter No. 588/1 in 16/7/1390 H., after the one month league, from the General Manager for Youth Care. This contribution achieved great success, which made the General Manager to present his thanks and appreciation in an official letter.
14- He was nominated as a member in the volley ball union, in its first formation, by virtue of Letter No. 335, in 15/1/1392 H., but he apologized for this position.
15- He was nominated as a member in the committee responsible for studying the rules and regulation of youth care, in order to moderate them, by virtue of His Royal Highness letter, Prince Faisal Bin Fahd, the General Manager for Youth Care, under No. 187, in 18/1/1393 H. He also continued in his club membership in subsequent administrations.
16- He worked as the Club’s Secretary General for two years, after finishing his assignment in Youth Care, during the presidency of His Highness, Prince Abdullah Bin Nasr, God rest his soul, by virtue of Decree No. 15, in 1/8/1392 H.
17- He occupied the post of Club Secretary General, by virtue of Decree No. 2489, in 6/12/1398 H., in the administration of Prince Abdullah Bin Nasr, God rest his soul, for the second time. This council continued for three years.
18- He worked as a responsible member for the sports activity, in the presidency of Prince Hazloul Bin Abd El Aziz, by virtue of Decree No. 80/1, in 12/1/1402 H.
19- He was honored among the first pioneers in plenty of domains, as the sports domain, which honored Abd El Rahman Bin Saed personally. Prince Salman Bin Abd El Aziz handed over the prize in a big honoring reception. Mr. Abd El Wahab Abd El Wase’, Chief of Board of Directors of Okaz Institution, addressed a speech of appreciation and appraisal for the pioneers’ attendance of the honoring reception, under No. 16, in 29/6/1417 H. He appreciated by this honoring, our long time service for the country, and raising its status in the sports field.
20- He occupied the post of club vice president, from 11/4/1403 H. by virtue of Decree No. 1000/1, in 11/4/1403 H., till 2/3/1405 H., when His Highness, Prince Abdullah Bin Saad, God rest his soul, was nominated for the club’s presidency
21- A member in the Saudi-Arabian Olympic Assembly.
22- Still practicing his sports activity by the administrative counseling and participation, as an honor member for Al Hilal Club.
23- As an appreciation for his efforts, and his generous sacrifices, he was honored by His Royal Highness, Price Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abd El Aziz, the General Chief for Youth Care, by granting him the decoration of General Chiefness for Youth Care. It was an appreciation and gratitude for his blessed efforts in serving the nation’s youth, and for developing the sports movement in the Saudi-Arabian Kingdom, since 1365 H. up till today. He was honored in the honoring reception of the pioneers, who founded the sports movement, in the Saudi-Arabian Kingdom. The reception was held in Jeddah, Tuesday night, corresponding to 10/3/1426 H.
