AlHilal
Encyclopedia
Al-Hilal Club of Omdurman is a Sudanese football
club founded on February 13, 1930 in the city of Omdurman
. The team has been crowned champion of the Sudan Premier League
in six of the past seven seasons, and throughout its history has won the championship 26 times during the league's 45 seasons – thus making it Sudan's most successful football
team.It is one of Africa most talented teams in Africa
is the Arabic word for crescent
– a name chosen on a night when the crescent of the moon was visible in Omdurman. Also it is the first club in the world to be named (AL- HILAL).
ian elements antagonistic to the Anglo part of the then Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
, the British colonial
authorities banned many activities and organizations that could potentially disrupt their hold on the region. The only organized activities permitted were sports clubs and Scouting
.
In 1930, four graduates from Gordon Memorial College
(now the University of Khartoum
) – Hamadnallah Ahmed, Yussuf Mustafa Al-Tini, Yusuf Al-Mamoon, and Babikir Mukhtar – decided to establish a sports club as an outlet for their and others' youthful energies. On February 13, 1930, a dozen of yet-to-be the founding fathers of Al-Hilal, mostly graduates from Khartoum Memorial College, met in the house of Hamadnallah Ahmed in Al-shohada Omdurman, to discuss the details of the new sports club.
At that time, sports clubs were named after neighbourhoods, cities and famous figures. Examples included Team Bori (after a Khartoum neighbourhood), Team Abbas (after a famous person) and Hay Alisbtaliya (after an Omdurmanian neighbourhood). The meeting concluded that the new club should have an inclusive name, and not be named after a specific neighbourhood or person.
The story goes that the club founders had been unable to agree upon a name for the proposed club when the meeting was temporarily adjourned at dusk for the evening prayers
at a nearby mosque
. After prayers and en route back to the meeting house, one of the founders, Adam Rajab, is said to have looked up at the night sky, saw a crescent ("Hilal" in Arabic), and remarking that it was the crescent of the Muslim lunar month of Rajab
, asked the others "why not we name it Al-Hilal?". Everyone welcomed the idea, and on March 4, 1930 Al-Hilal became the official name of the club and the first to hold this name in Sudan and the Middle East.
The uniform chosen was dark blue and white – after the white crescent against the dark blue night skies. In light of the aforementioned pro-Egyptian uprising, however, the British colonial authorities initially refused to permit formation of a team whose symbol, a crescent, was reminiscent of the crescent prominently featured on the Egyptian flag of that time. Only after repeated reassurances that the team was simply an athletic outlet for apolitical college students, and that its symbol had no political overtones, did the British authorities relent and allow the team to form.
(F) = denotes Founder
for Al-Hilal is Allah – AlWatan – Al-Hilal. It is translated to English as "God – The Nation – Al-Hilal", which establishes a priority love list for Al-Hilal fans.
. With both clubs based in Omdurman, clubs matches are very intensified and often require high security precautions. In recent years, this rivalry extended to include the press labeling certain sports newspapers and columnists as Al-Hilal Writers vs. Al-Merrikh Writers.
Player exchange period is occasionally very competitive and fierce. Prospective players are sometimes hidden and placed in undisclosed locations to ensure that the other club would not extend a higher offer and sign the player.
Although Al-Mourada
is considered as the third club that completes the Sudan football triplet, it has struggled financially and administratively to continue that legacy.
Al Hilal vs Al Merrikh is one of the strongest and hardest derbies in Africa in Arab football. Sudanese people say it is one of the toughest derbies in East Africa.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club founded on February 13, 1930 in the city of Omdurman
Omdurman
Omdurman is the second largest city in Sudan and Khartoum State, lying on the western banks of the River Nile, opposite the capital, Khartoum. Omdurman has a population of 2,395,159 and is the national centre of commerce...
. The team has been crowned champion of the Sudan Premier League
Sudan Premier League
Sudan Premier League is the top division of the Sudan Football Association, it was created in 1962.-Sudan Premier League Clubs - 2011:* Al-Ahli * Al-Ahli * Al-Hilal * Al-Hilal...
in six of the past seven seasons, and throughout its history has won the championship 26 times during the league's 45 seasons – thus making it Sudan's most successful football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team.It is one of Africa most talented teams in Africa
Name and history
The name HilālHilal (Arabic term)
Hilāl is an Arabic word that means "crescent" or "new moon". It is an Islamic symbol, used by the Red Crescent societies and elsewhere.-External links:* *...
is the Arabic word for crescent
Crescent
In art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
– a name chosen on a night when the crescent of the moon was visible in Omdurman. Also it is the first club in the world to be named (AL- HILAL).
Idea
During the late 1920s and early 1930s, on the heels of a failed uprising by pro EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian elements antagonistic to the Anglo part of the then Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
, the British colonial
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
authorities banned many activities and organizations that could potentially disrupt their hold on the region. The only organized activities permitted were sports clubs and Scouting
Scouting in Sudan
The Scout and Guide movement in Sudan is served by* The Sudan Girl Guides Association, member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts* Sudan Scouts Association, member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement-South Sudan:...
.
In 1930, four graduates from Gordon Memorial College
Gordon Memorial College
Gordon Memorial College is an educational institution in Sudan. It was built between 1899 and 1902 as part of Lord Kitchener's wide-ranging educational reforms....
(now the University of Khartoum
University of Khartoum
The University of Khartoum ia a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Khartoum. It is the largest and oldest university in Sudan. UofK was founded as Gordon Memorial College in 1902 and established in 1956 when Sudan gained independence...
) – Hamadnallah Ahmed, Yussuf Mustafa Al-Tini, Yusuf Al-Mamoon, and Babikir Mukhtar – decided to establish a sports club as an outlet for their and others' youthful energies. On February 13, 1930, a dozen of yet-to-be the founding fathers of Al-Hilal, mostly graduates from Khartoum Memorial College, met in the house of Hamadnallah Ahmed in Al-shohada Omdurman, to discuss the details of the new sports club.
At that time, sports clubs were named after neighbourhoods, cities and famous figures. Examples included Team Bori (after a Khartoum neighbourhood), Team Abbas (after a famous person) and Hay Alisbtaliya (after an Omdurmanian neighbourhood). The meeting concluded that the new club should have an inclusive name, and not be named after a specific neighbourhood or person.
The story goes that the club founders had been unable to agree upon a name for the proposed club when the meeting was temporarily adjourned at dusk for the evening prayers
Maghrib
The Maghrib prayer , prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers performed by practicing Muslims.The formal daily prayers of Islam comprise different numbers of units, called rak'at. The Maghrib prayer has three obligatory rak'at. The first two fard rak'at are prayed...
at a nearby mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
. After prayers and en route back to the meeting house, one of the founders, Adam Rajab, is said to have looked up at the night sky, saw a crescent ("Hilal" in Arabic), and remarking that it was the crescent of the Muslim lunar month of Rajab
Rajab
Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a derivative.This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited...
, asked the others "why not we name it Al-Hilal?". Everyone welcomed the idea, and on March 4, 1930 Al-Hilal became the official name of the club and the first to hold this name in Sudan and the Middle East.
The uniform chosen was dark blue and white – after the white crescent against the dark blue night skies. In light of the aforementioned pro-Egyptian uprising, however, the British colonial authorities initially refused to permit formation of a team whose symbol, a crescent, was reminiscent of the crescent prominently featured on the Egyptian flag of that time. Only after repeated reassurances that the team was simply an athletic outlet for apolitical college students, and that its symbol had no political overtones, did the British authorities relent and allow the team to form.
1930 Squad and Officers
The first squad included many of the founders that were present at the establishing meeting. The following list includes the founding fathers of Al-Hilal and their roles.First Administration
|
First Squad (1930)
|
Other Founders
|
(F) = denotes Founder
Achievements
- Sudan Premier LeagueSudan Premier LeagueSudan Premier League is the top division of the Sudan Football Association, it was created in 1962.-Sudan Premier League Clubs - 2011:* Al-Ahli * Al-Ahli * Al-Hilal * Al-Hilal...
: 26
-
- 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20092009 Sudan Premier LeagueThe 2009 Sudan Premier League is the 14th edition of the highest club level football competition in Sudan. The competition started on 2009-02-18 with a 1-1 draw between Al-Mourada and Merghani Kassala....
, 20102010 Sudan Premier LeagueThe 2010 Sudan Premier League was the 15th edition of the highest club level football competition in Sudan. The competition started on 2010-02-20.For the 2010 season, the number of teams has been expanded from 13 to 14 teams...
- 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
- Sudan CupSudan CupThe Sudan Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Sudanese football. It was created in 1962.-Winners:*1962 : Al Merreikh Omdurmanunknown winner between 1963 and 1969*1970 : Al Merreikh Omdurman*1971 : Al Merreikh Omdurman...
: 5
-
- 1977, 1993, 2000, 2004, 2009
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 0
-
- Runners-up: 1987, 1992
- Arabic Cup of Champion Clubs: 0
-
- Runners-up: 2003
- Semi-Finals: 1990, 2005
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions LeagueCAF Champions LeagueThe CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
: 11 appearances
-
- 1997CAF Champions League 1997The 1997 CAF Champions League was the 33rd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football , and the 1st edition under the current CAF Champions League format...
– Second Round - 1999 – Second Round
- 2000 – First Round
- 2004 – Third Round
- 1997
-
- 2005CAF Champions League 2005The CAF Champions League 2005 started on 29 January 2005 with a preliminary round. The two legs of the final were played on 28 October and 12 November, with Egypt's Al-Ahly coming out as 3-0 aggregate winners.-Preliminary Round:...
– First Round - 2006CAF Champions League 2006The CAF Champions League 2006 started on 17 February 2006 with a preliminary round. The second leg of the final was played in Tunisia on the 11th of November. Al-Ahly won the tournament for the second time in a row with a late winner by Mohamed Aboutreika....
– Second Round - 2007CAF Champions League 2007The CAF Champions League 2007 was the 11th occurrence of the CAF Champions League, the most prestigious club football competition in Africa. Étoile du Sahel of Tunisia became champions for the first time, beating Al-Ahly of Egypt 3–1 in a two-legged final.-Preliminary round:The 1st legs were...
– Semi-Finals - 2008CAF Champions League 2008The CAF Champions League 2008 was the 12th running of the CAF Champions League competition. Al-Ahly of Egypt achieved an unprecented 6th Champions League cup by winning 4-2 on aggregate against Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon .-Preliminary round:...
– Quarter-Finals
- 2005
-
- 2009CAF Champions League 2009The 2009 CAF Champions League is the 45th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football , and the 13th edition under the current CAF Champions League format...
– Semi-Finals - 2010 – Second Round
- 20112011 CAF Champions LeagueThe 2011 CAF Champions League was the 47th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football , and the 15th edition under the current CAF Champions League format...
– Semi-Finals
- 2009
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 14 appearances
-
- 1966African Cup of Champions Clubs 1966The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1966 was the 2nd edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs. It determined that year's club champion of association football in Africa....
– Semi-Finals - 1967African Cup of Champions Clubs 1967The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1967 was the 3rd edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– First Round - 1970African Cup of Champions Clubs 1970The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1970 was the 6th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Second Round - 1974African Cup of Champions Clubs 1974The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1974 was the 10th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Second Round - 1982African Cup of Champions Clubs 1982The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1982 was the 18th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Second Round
- 1966
-
- 1984African Cup of Champions Clubs 1984The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1984 was the 20th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– First Round - 1985African Cup of Champions Clubs 1985The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1985 was the 21st edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs. It determined that year's club champion of association football in Africa....
– Second Round - 1987African Cup of Champions Clubs 1987The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1987 was the 23rd edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Finalist - 1988African Cup of Champions Clubs 1988The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1988 was the 23rd edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Quarter-Finals - 1990African Cup of Champions Clubs 1990The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1990 was the 25th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Quarter-Finals
- 1984
-
- 1992African Cup of Champions Clubs 1992The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1992 was the 27th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– Finalist - 1993African Cup of Champions Clubs 1993The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1993 was the 28th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– First Round - 1995African Cup of Champions Clubs 1995The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1995 was the 30th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– First Round - 1996African Cup of Champions Clubs 1996The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1996 was the 31st edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region , the African Cup of Champions Clubs...
– First Round
- 1992
- CAF Confederation CupCAF Confederation CupThe CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:...
: 3 appearances
-
- 2004 – Group Stage
- 2006CAF Confederation Cup 2006The CAF Confederation Cup 2006 started with the preliminary round that was played in February and March 2006. Étoile Sahel of Tunisia beat FAR Rabat of Morocco in the final...
– Intermediate Round - 2010 – Semi-Finals
- CAF CupCAF CupThe CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runner-ups of member associations who haven't qualified to one of the two pre-existing CAF international club competitions the African Cup of Champions Clubs or the African Cup Winners' Cup.-Format:Only runner-ups of...
: 2 appearances
-
- 1998 – Quarter-Finals
- 20022002 CAF CupThe 2002 CAF Cup was the 11th edition of the CAF Cup, the African continental club competition for runners up of the respective domestic leagues. It was won by Algerian team JS Kabylie who beat Tonnerre Yaoundé of Cameroon 4-1 over two legs in the final...
– First Round
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances
-
- 1994 – First Round
- 2001 – First Round
- 2003 – Second Round
Motto
The mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
for Al-Hilal is Allah – AlWatan – Al-Hilal. It is translated to English as "God – The Nation – Al-Hilal", which establishes a priority love list for Al-Hilal fans.
Rivalry with Al-Merrikh
There is a fierce historical rivalry between the two strongest clubs in Sudan, Al-Hilal and Al-MerrikhAl-Merrikh
Al-Merreikh Sporting Club is a Sudanese football club based in Omdurman, Sudan. Their home stadium is Al Merreikh Stadium. Which is also known as The Red Castle. Al-Merreikh is one of the most ancient and strongest football club in Africa. El-Merreikh have been crowned with the Sudanese Premier...
. With both clubs based in Omdurman, clubs matches are very intensified and often require high security precautions. In recent years, this rivalry extended to include the press labeling certain sports newspapers and columnists as Al-Hilal Writers vs. Al-Merrikh Writers.
Player exchange period is occasionally very competitive and fierce. Prospective players are sometimes hidden and placed in undisclosed locations to ensure that the other club would not extend a higher offer and sign the player.
Although Al-Mourada
Al-Mourada
Al-Mourada Sports Club is a Sudanese football club based in Al-Mourada, a suburb of Omdurman. Along with AlHilal and Al-Merrikh,they formed the triplet of Sudanese football, but they couldnt that legacy. They were one of the strongest teams in sudan . Their home stadium is Stade Mourada .-Name...
is considered as the third club that completes the Sudan football triplet, it has struggled financially and administratively to continue that legacy.
Al Hilal vs Al Merrikh is one of the strongest and hardest derbies in Africa in Arab football. Sudanese people say it is one of the toughest derbies in East Africa.
Current squad (2010/2011)
Notable players and staff
Throughout history, Al-Hilal players, staff, and administration have achieved notability in sports and other disciplines.| Name | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Yousif Ahmed Yousif | 2010 | Al-Hilal new president 2010. |
 Tayeb AbdallahTayeb Abdallah Al-Tayeb Abdallah was a former Sudanese president of the Sudanese football club Al-Hilal .-Career at Al Hilal:... |
1963–99 | Longest serving president and staff member of Al-Hilal. |
| Haitham Mustafa Haitham Mustafa Hytham Mostafa Karar is a Sudanese football midfielder playing for Al-Hilal. Haitham plays as midfielder and is the captain of Al-Hilal and the Sudan national football team. He joined Al-Hilal in November 1995 after transferring from Al-Ameer Al-Bahrawi, a second league team... |
1995– | Most caps Cap (sport) In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football... in Al-Hilal and Sudan national team Sudan national football team The Sudan national football team represents Sudan in association football and is controlled by the Sudan Football Association, the governing body for football in Sudan. Sudan's home ground is Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman and their head coach is Mohammed Abdullah Mazda... |