JEDDAH: Deputy Head of the Saudi Football Federation Nawaf Al-Timyat conveyed his apology and deep regret to the national team’s fans for Saudi Arabia’s loss to Russia in the World Cup. Al-Timyat revealed that everybody is feeling thoroughly responsible for the defeat, just as they would’ve shouldered a win. He promised supporters that the team is working harder than ever to show a different performance on Saudi’s upcoming two matches against Uruguay and Egypt. Al-Timyat, a former football player with Al-Hilal and the Saudi national football team occupying the midfielder position, was appointed deputy head of the Saudi Football Federation in December 2017. He was born in 1976 to a very athletic family with his two older brothers representing Al-Hilal in the past as well. In 2000, he garnered every available official and non-official award: He was chosen as Asian Footballer of the Year, and he also received the title of Arab Footballer of the Year and Saudi Footballer of the Year and served as a football ambassador. He was considered the best player on the Saudi national team in 2002 during the World Cup. Due to sequential injuries between the years of 2001 and 2004, he did not play football for that duration. Al-Timyat’s final game with Al-Hilal took place in 2008. His retirement was finalized as per his request in January 2010 after sustaining a series of injuries. As a person who worked many years as a football commentator after his retirement at channels like Al Jazeera, he condemned a TV channel for insulting the Saudi team’s performance, calling the action unethical. He said that legal procedures will be taken against them.