JEDDAH, June 4: The Saudi football team was on Monday offered a pillar of support from prince Sultan Ben Abdel Aziz, the Saudi defence minister.

The prince Sultan telephoned the team to help raise the team’s sagging spirits ahead of their second match, against Cameroon on Thursday.

However he also appealed for the team to “deploy more effort” in a bid to avoid another crushing defeat, and to show the world a positive image of the country.

“I wish you all good luck ... and ask you to deploy more effort in the remaining matches,” the prince Sultan said.

“Let your participation in the World Cup reflect a positive image of the people in the Saudi kingdom,” he added.—AFP