SUPER Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has confessed that the standard of football in Saudi Arabia is much lower than what she was used to in England and with the national team.
The Nigeria international joined Al-Ittihad from Leicester City in 2023 and recently renewed her contract with the Saudi Women’s Premier League club.
Although the SWPL is not as star-studded as the Saudi men’s Pro League, there are several major names who feature alongside Plumptre.
Two-time Women’s Champions League winner Asisat Oshoala joined Al-Hilal this year, while France internationals Kheira Hamraoui and Amel Majri play in the SWPL.
And they get star treatment, including flights to games to avoid long travel times around such a big country.
But there are several obvious issues in the SWPL. One is the disparity in skill between the internationals and homegrown players. Another is the lack of fans at many of the games.
Plumptre, 27, admits there is plenty of catching up to do.
“It’s not something I will ever hide away from – the standard is not what I’m used to in the WSL or at international level, and I worried how that would impact myself and my development,” she told BBC Sport.
“One of my club and international team-mates, Francisca Ordega, said in Saudi we must do more. The pace is not as fast, so you must think in different ways, and push yourselves beyond boundaries that you didn’t before. There is more responsibility on you.”
Facilities, Plumptre says, are good for players. Al-Ittihad is not just a football club, but also has teams in swimming, volleyball and basketball, and Plumptre says they have adapted to the arrival of women’s football since 2023, although the state-of-the-art facilities do go to the men.
Unlike in the Women’s Super League in England, the squad train in the evening when temperatures are cooler – something Plumptre prefers as it reminds her of training after school while at Leicester academy, as well as leaving her days free.
“When I first came here, we were using the same gym the volleyball and basketball teams use,” she said.
“Now we are in the old men’s gym. The men’s team have a new facility. We have a medical clinic, access to ice baths, our own locker room. We train on the main field, separate to the men. When I got here the field was not great at all, so we pushed on that and people listened.”
Low crowds are commonplace in the SWPL
The biggest problem is attendances. Other than Al-Ula, every SWPL team play in a stadium with a capacity less than 15,000, and crowds are sparse.
“We don’t have many fans,” Plumptre says.
She puts this down to an absence of community initiatives in Saudi Arabia to get children attending games with their families and giving out free tickets in schools.
This has played a huge part in the WSL growing attendances and fanbases among children and families, and Plumptre says this is being worked on by Saudi clubs.
Matches are available to watch on TV in the Middle East on the Saudi Sports Company network and the Shahid streaming platform. Saudi-backed DAZN has the broadcast rights in Europe.
As for Saudi Arabian women’s football on a global stage, there is plenty of work to be done. Hosting the men’s World Cup in 2034 and Aramco’s partnership with FIFA has led to speculation about a bid for the Women’s World Cup soon.
Plumptre, however, feels the aims need to be more realistic.
“In the near future I would say ‘no’ [to Saudi hosting a Women’s World Cup], because everything takes time,” she said.
“I really care about helping these Saudi players develop and I don’t want things to happen too soon. I believe in the process, taking measurable and decisive steps – make it long-lasting.
“It is not about trying to rush something. If you put the Saudi team on a stage they are not ready for, it is unfair for them and women’s football.”
With BBC Sport report