Al-Hilal have brought back their Player of the Month award from September, giving the Sudanese club’s squad a new incentive as they compete in the African Champions League and Rwandan league.
The club’s sports sector announced the return of the award on its official website after it was suspended during the latter part of last season.
Under the new selection process, the winner will be determined through a combination of technical assessment and supporters’ votes. Fans will therefore have the opportunity to help decide which player made the biggest contribution during the month.
The initiative is intended to encourage competition within the squad while also giving supporters a closer connection with the players.
The monthly winner will be recognised during a small ceremony attended by his team-mates. Al-Hilal believe the presentation will help raise the players’ morale and encourage them to maintain high standards as the season progresses.
The return of the award comes at a busy period for the Sudanese club, who are competing in the Rwandan league while preparing for their African Champions League campaign. The club is also waiting for the start of the Sudanese domestic league.
Ahmed Salem emerges as September contender
Mauritanian midfielder Ahmed Salem Mubarak is regarded as the leading candidate for the September award after making a significant contribution to Al-Hilal’s recent results.
The 24-year-old played an important role in the club’s progress to the second preliminary round of the African Champions League. He scored two of Al-Hilal’s three goals across the two legs against Burundi’s Aigle Noir.
Salem also helped the team begin its Rwandan league campaign with a victory, strengthening his case for the first award since its return.
With Al-Hilal having no further domestic or continental fixtures scheduled for the remainder of September, Salem’s performances give him a strong opportunity to claim the monthly prize.
The club is currently conducting a training camp in Libya as it prepares for the next stage of its African Champions League campaign.
Al-Hilal will face Ethiopia’s Sidiama Buna in the second preliminary round and will use the Libyan camp to continue preparations for the tie.
The Sudanese side will also play several friendly matches during the camp, including another meeting with Libyan club Al-Ahli Tripoli.
The two teams have already met in a friendly, with Al-Hilal losing 1-0. Their second encounter will take place without the international players.
For Al-Hilal, the revival of the monthly award provides another way of recognising individual performances while encouraging competition within the squad. Supporters will also have a direct role in choosing the winner, adding another element to the club’s effort to strengthen the relationship between the team and its fans.
