Moscow: With modern-day facilities, travel has become easier and hassle-free and when it comes to see a glimpse of football heroes, supporters find those very convenient. However, making a journey by bicycle across four countries to see your football heroes is a far less common occurrence.
Yet, Fahd Al-Yahya of Saudi Arabia has just done that. He has travelled more than 5,145 kilometres on a cycle to Moscow in 75 days, where he will watch his side take on the hosts in the tournament opener of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to FIFA.com about his long-distance journey, the intrepid cyclist said, “The Prince of the Riyadh region, Faysal Ben Bandar Abdulaziz, gave me the national flag and I’ve brought it all the way to Russia. I went to the Saudi embassy in Moscow and gave it to the ambassador, Raed Qrimli, Tuesday.”
Al-Yahya stated that his goal is to see the team do well in Russia. “I made the trip so I can support the Green Falcons (Saudi Arabia’s nick name) at the World Cup,” said the 28-year-old, who also visited the national team’s base in St Petersburg, where he received a warm welcome from Adel Ezzat, the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
But having followed the national team by bike from Riyadh to Moscow has been a tiresome effort and Al-Yahya said that he will not take the arduous route back. “I’ll be flying back to Riyadh instead,” he informed with a smile.
- Al-Yahya travelled more than 5,145 kilometres in 75 days on his epic journey
- Along the way he suffered slight head and back injuries in an accident with a lorry