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Qatar maintains can host 2022 World Cup in summer

September 20, 2013, 10:32 pm
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(Reuters) - Qatar has maintained it can host the 2022 World Cup in summer even as pressure mounts on FIFA to switch it to winter to save players and fans from intense heat in the tiny Gulf nation.

The energy-rich nation, where summer temperatures top 45 degree celsius, was awarded the World Cup three years ago in a surprise decision.

Qatar said it was open to a switch to winter dates but reiterated that despite the extreme heat, it could stage the World Cup in summer by building air-conditioned stadiums using newly environmentally-friendly technology.

"We bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in summer and are fully committed and working hard to deliver on these promises," the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said in a statement on Friday.

"If the international football community asks us to move the timetable for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar we are able to do so, but the development and implementation of environmentally-friendly cooling technologies remains an important legacy issue for our nation, region and many countries with similar climates."

How fans will deal with the heat away from the stadiums remains a worry and FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently said it was a mistake to plan for a summer tournament in the desert state.

The Qatar organising committee tried to allay those fears saying solar-powered, air-conditioning technology could solve the problems.

"Creating comfortable conditions for public areas, walkways, training pitches and stadiums both during and after the World Cup means being able to play and watch football matches in summer throughout the country," the organising committee added.

"Cooling technology has existed at Jassim bin Hamad (Al Sadd) Stadium since 2008. This June the stadium (in Doha) hosted a FIFA World Cup qualifier in cool and comfortable conditions.

"We are now in the process of developing and perfecting sustainable cooling technologies ... to ensure that our Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup stadia, training grounds and fan zones offer the optimal temperature for players and fans to enjoy the games."

European football federations have agreed it would be "impossible" to stage the tournament in summer.

Calls to move the World Cup to the northern hemisphere winter have also met criticism as it would disrupt domestic league competitions in European countries.

Last week, the association representing European clubs said they would not be opposed to a re-scheduling of the tournament but added they wanted to be consulted about the new timing.
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QSL – Matchday 5 Preview

October 18, 2013, 3:25 am
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The highlight of matchday five will be the classic clash between Al Rayyan and Al Gharrafa at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Saturday, while Al Jaish and Al Wakrah will battle it out for the top spot in a promising game at Abdullah bin Khalifa stadium on Friday.

18-10-2013

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium – 20.30 QT
Al Jaish vs. Al Wakrah

The top clash this week will see Al Jaish hosting Al Wakrah with an eye on the top spot.

Al Wakrah is leading the table with eleven points, two points clear of the trio of Al Sailiyah, Qatar Sports Club and Al Jaish. The four sides are still undefeated after four rounds.

Al Wakrah’s new signing, Michel, scored in every league game this season, and is leading the league‘s top scorers list with five goals. The 27-year-old Brazilian joined the blue waves in the summer on loan from Sporting Braga of Portugal.

Al Jaish conceded only one goal in their first four matches.

Grand Hamad Stadium – 18.15 QT
Al Sailiyah vs. Al Khurtiyath

Al Sailiyah will be hoping for another impressive performance when they face Al Khurtiyath.

“The Peregrines” finished last season at the bottom of the table and were only saved by a late decision to expand the league to 14 teams, but this year everything looks different for the team with the arrival of the new coach Sami Trabelsi.

The 45-year-old former Tunisia coach miraculously transformed Al Sailiyah into a real title contender, thanks to the powerful attacking force of Momouni Dagano and new signing Yves Diba Ilunga.
In the previous round, Al Sailiyah crushed Qatari football giants Al Rayyan 5-1.

Al Khurtiyath started the campaign in great form by holding Al Wakrah to a 2-2 draw and defeating Lekhwiya away 2-0, but then their form slumped greatly and they suffered two consecutive defeats.

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium – 18.15 QT
Lekhwiya vs. Muaither

Two-time champions Lekhwiya will be looking for an emphatic victory when they host newly-promoted Muaither.

With only one victory in four matches, pressure has been mounting on Eric Gerets, and another blunder against Muaither might cost the 59-year-old coach his job.

Muaither are tenth in the table with four points and are winless in their last three league games.

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium – 20.30 QT
Al Ahli vs. Umm Salal

The bottom of the table clash will be of great importance for both sides as they will be aiming for their first win this season.

After a poor start to the season Umm Salal sacked their French coach Alain Perrin and he was replaced by his countryman Gerard Gili, who previously lead the club to their biggest ever achievement when they won the Emir Cup and reached the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.

Gili’s first game in charge was an entertaining 4-4 draw against QSL Champions Al Sadd in matchday four.
Al Ahli lost the services of their midfield anchor Freydon Zandi who suffered a horrible leg injury in their match against Muaither, and will be out for at least 9 month. The Iranian midfielder played a big role in the team's return to top flight this season and the effect of his absence was clear in the previous round as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat against Al Arabi in the Doha Derby.

19-10-2013

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium – 18.15 QT
Al Sadd vs. Qatar

After kicking off their campaign with two straight victories, QSL Champions Al Sadd suffered a 1-0 defeat against Al Jaish, before missing on a close victory over Umm Salal a week later as they conceded a late equalizer from Cabore’ to draw with Umm Salal 4-4.

If the home side failed to win the game against Qatar on Saturday, it will be the first time they fail to win a league game in three consecutive rounds since April 2012.

Qatar Sports Club have made their best league start since the 2010/2011 season with two wins and two draws, but their clash against Al Sadd will be their toughest to date.

Sebastiao Lazaroni’s side will be hoping that their versatile winger Moussa Al Allaq can keep the brilliant form he showed lately as he was on target in the last two games scoring the winner against Al Khurtiyath and a nearly striker that secured a point against Al Gharrafa.

Grand Hamad Stadium – 18.15
Al Arabi vs. Al Khor

Al Arabi made another poor start to their league campaign despite revitalizing their team in the summer by signing eight new players.

Pressure was eased on German coach Uli Stielke in the previous round as his team defeated Al Ahli 4-1 in the Doha derby to secure their first win this season.

The match against Al Ahli also saw Wanderley scoring his first ever league brace for the team. The 25-year-old former Flamengo striker joined Al Arabi in 2011 but his first two seasons were marred by lengthy injuries.

New signings Mohamed Razak and Thamer Gamal also scored their first goals with the club in the same match.

Things look different for Al Khor who was expected to battle for a place among the top four this season, as they lie in the 12thposition with three points from three draws and a 4-0 home defeat against Al Rayyan.
The team was hit by the absence of Brazilian star striker Bruno Mineiro who suffered a broken-leg injury in the opening day of the season and was replaced by Morocco’s Fawzi Abdul Ghani who is yet to show his real potential.

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium – 20.30
Al Rayyan vs. Al Gharrafa

The Lions will host the Leopards in one of the Classic encounters in Qatari football as it brings together two of the most popular teams in the country.

Both sides failed to impress in the opening four rounds of the season, as Al Rayyan suffered three defeats including a humiliating 5-1 home loss against Al Sailiyah on Matchday Four, while Al Gharrafa settled for four consecutive draws.

Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre is on a hot seat and if his team failed to perform well against the Leopards he might be on his way out of the club.


Al Gharrafa’s coach Zico will hope that the club’s two big summer signings, Argentina’s Lisandro Lopez and Venezuela’s Miku can finally hit form. Both stars made their league debut in the previous round against Qatar SC as Lopez missed the opening three rounds with a thigh injury, while Miku joined the team on the closing day of the transfer window.
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QSL - Marchday 6 Preview

October 25, 2013, 5:15 am
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All eyes will be on Al Sailiyah today to see if the surprise league leaders can continue their brilliant performances when they travel to Al Khor, and with only three points separating the top six teams things can change dramatically for the top sides this weekend.

The top game on Saturday will see seven-time champions Al Gharrafa facing two-time winners Lekhwiya. Both sides were in great form lately and the game promises to be a cracker. Al Gharafa's Miku and Lisandro Lopez shined against Al Rayyan last week while Sebastian Soria scored a brace in a 5-1 victory for Lekhwiya  over Muaither.       

25/10/2013

 

Al Khor Stadium, 18:15 QT
Al Khor vs. Al Sailiyah

Surprise league leaders Al Sailiyah will travel to Al Khor hoping to continue their historic start to the season and extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

Sami Al Trabelsi’s side are playing with an attractive attacking-style aided by the in-form trio of Moumoni Dagano, Yves Ilunga Diba and Fawzi Ayesh. Their Most impressive results this season were defeating Al Rayyan 5-1 and holding former champions Lekhwiya to a 3-3 draw.
Al Khor are still looking for their first win this season, after a single defeat and four draws.

With their Brazilian forward Bruno Mineiro out for at least six months with a broken leg injury, Al Khor only scored three goals in five matches, with two of them coming last week in the 2-2 draw with Al Arabi.
Al Wakrah Stadium, 18:15 QT
Al Wakrah vs. Al Sadd
QSL defending champions will be hoping to return to the top of the table when they travel to second-placed Al Wakrah tonight.
Al Wakrah are still unbeaten and are second in the table only on goal difference from league leaders Al Sailiyah, while Al Sadd are lurking behind in third spot one point behind.
Last week Al Sadd registered their biggest win this season when they demolished Qatar SC 4-0, while Al Wakrah ended an impressive three-match winning streak with a 1-1 away draw against Al Jaish.
Al Wakrah’s Brazilian striker Michel Souza is in top form and currently leads the league’s top scorers’ list with five goals.
Khalfan Ibrahim was Al Sadd’s top performer this season with four goals, with Spanish legend Raul Gonzalez and Brazilian striker Leandro Da Silva are yet to show their full potential.
Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, 18:15 QT
Qatar SC vs. Al Arabi
Last week, the Kings stumbled to a 4-0 defeat against Al Sadd, their first league defeat in what was also their first real test this season, while Al Arabi were held at home 2-2 by Al Khor.
The visitors will be without their Algerian playmaker Karim Ziani who picked up a thigh injury during training yesterday, and that means Jesus Meza can return to the starting line-up for the first time in a more than a month. The former Venezuela international was not included in the first team by German coach Uli Stielke to make way for Algeria’s Khoukhi Boualem who is registered as the Reserve team’s foreign player.
Suhaim bin Hamad, 20:30 QT
Umm Salal vs. Umm Salal
Four defeats in five matches have put Al Rayyan in 13thposition only one-point above the bottom of the table Umm Salal. This week the two sides will clash knowing that a defeat will only mean a guarantee of the bottom spot by the end of this round.
Anger is spreading among the fans of one of the most-supported clubs in the country, and a defeat against Umm Salal might cost the under-pressure Diego Aguirre his coaching role at Al Rayyan.
Last week against Al Gharrafa, the team played a good game and could have earned at least a draw, but defensive blunders and the inexperience of some young players in the side made them pay dearly. In addition, Nilmar was in poor form and Rodrigo Tabata was not at his best lately, and when these two stars fail to deliver it is difficult to expect good results from “The Lions”.
Umm Salal sacked their French coach Alain Perrin at the end of last month, and replaced him with his fellow countryman Gerard Gili.
Gili made an impressive debut holding defending champions Al Sadd to a 4-4 draw, but that was followed with a 3-1 defeat against Al Ahli last week that sent the team to the bottom of the table.
26/10/2103

Al Khor Stadium, 18:15 QT
Al Khurtiyath vs. Al Ahli
Al Ahli notched their first victory this season when the defeated Umm Salal 3-1 last week to move from bottom to fifth in the table.
Veteran striker Waleed Hamza was on target in the last two games and if he kept showing this form, he might have a chance of returning to the national team.
Al Khurtiyath will hope for a positive result that will end a three-match losing streak that saw them slipping down to seventh place.
Thani bin Jassim Stadium, 18:15 QT
Muaither vs. Al Jaish
QSL debutants Muaither made the perfect start for their season defeating Umm Salal 2-1 in the opening round, but that proved to be their only victory as they suffered three defeats and draw 1-1 with Al Ahli in the next four rounds. They are suffering defensively as they conceded eight goals in the past two games.  
Al Jaish are fourth in the table, still undefeated, and have the best defense in the league with only two goals conceded.
19-year-old  Mohammed Muntari is in great form, with three goals in five games, including a worthy winner in a 1-0 victory over Al Sadd.     
Thani bin Jassim Stadium, 20:30 QT
Al Gharrafa vs. Lekhwiya
A great clash between two in-form teams who share five of the last six QSL titles. Al Gharrafa dominated the local scene between 2007-2010, before Lekhwiya broke their dominance in the 2010-11 season and clinched two successive titles.
Last week a great performance from the new attacking duo of Lisandro Lopez and Miku helped Al Gharrafa to an emphatic 3-1 victory over Al Rayyan. The leopards’ first win this season after four consecutive draws eased the pressure on their Brazilian coach Zico.
Eric Gerets’ Lekhwiya will face their first real test this season. They have been picking up form lately and registered two impressive home wins over Al Arabi 4-1 and Muaither 5-1.
The Leopards will be without their Brazilian playmaker Nene’ who is suspended after receiving a red card in the game against Al Rayyan.
Last season’s top scorer Sebastian Soria seems to have found his form as he scored his first goals of the season in last week’s 5-1 win over Muaither, and his team can also welcome back their brilliant Tunisian attacking midfielder Yousef Msakni who missed the game against Muaither through injury.
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QSL - Matchday 6 - Review

October 27, 2013, 9:07 am
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With the conclusion of another exciting QSL round, five teams continue their battle for the top spot as only goal difference separates the top three sides Al Sailiyah, Al Wakrah and Al Jaish while Lekhwiya and defending champions Al Sadd are a single point behind.

The highlights of this weekend included two great comebacks from Al Sailiyah and Umm Salal, Al Gharrafa’s first defeat, Al Rayyan’s Nilmar ending his goal drought and Al Arabi’s Wanderley scoring his first league hattrick.

Al Khor (2) [Madson 45 Othman Mohamed 48]
Al Sailiyah (2) [Dagano 90 Ilunga Diba 90+3]

Al Khor came close to their first victory this season, but were denied by an injury time comeback from the visitors.

Madson opened the score for the home side in the final minute of the first half with a brilliant individual effort, before creating the second three minutes after the break from a corner that was headed in by Othman Mohamed.

The Peregrines looked set for their first league defeat this season when Bahrain International Fawzi Ayesh wasted a penalty 16 minutes from time.

But with the game heading into injury time, a long ball from Ayesh found Moumoni Dagano at the edge of the box, and the Burkina Faso international controlled the ball brilliantly before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Papa Djibril to make it 2-1.

A couple of minutes later Dagano was fouled again inside the box and Congolese striker Yves Ilunga Diba made no mistake this time to earn his team a worthy point.    

Al Wakrah (0)
Al Sadd (0)

Al Sadd’s goalkeeper Saad Al Shib was sent off after just 14 minutes for handling the ball outside the box, but Al Wakrah failed to benefit from the numeric advantage in a game that saw both sides wasting clear chances.

The match saw Spain’s legend Raul getting his first yellow card since joining Al Sadd in the summer of 2012.

Umm Salal (3) [Othman Al Assas 45' IbrahimaN’daiye 79' Al Yahri 84']
Al Rayyan (3) [Ahmed Alaa 21' Nilmar 36' Hamed Ismael 70']

Al Rayyan’s woes continue as they wasted a two goal lead against bottom of the table Umm Salal to extend their winless streak to three games.

After a disastrous 5-1 defeat against Al Sailiyah, The Lions suffered a 3-1 loss against Al Gharrafa last week and a victory against Umm Salal was crucial to get the team back among the title contenders.

It started very well for the visitors as Ahmed Alaa gave them the lead in the 21st minute with a long range effort, before Nilmar found the net for the first time this season 15 minutes later, but Umm Salal fought back and were able to reduce the deficit just before the break, when Othman Al Assas successfully converted from the spot.   

Hamed Ismael made it 3-1 for Al Rayyan with a wonderful free-kick in the 70th minute, but IbrahimaN’diaye brought the “Oranje” back into the game with a powerful header after a perfect cross from Aden Ali to set up a nail-biting final ten minutes.

With six minutes left on the clock, a great passing move that Involved N’diaye, BakaryKone, ended with delicate touch from Al Assas that set up Substitute Abdul Aziz Al Yahri for a deserved equalizer.

Umm Salal stayed bottom of the table with three points, while Al Rayyan went up one place to a disappointing 12th position one goal difference from Muaither, and to make matters worth for the Qatari football giants, Rodrigo Tabata was substituted in the first half after picking up a muscle injury. The length of his absence will be decided after a medical check at Aspetar today.

Pressure continue to mount on Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre, but the Uruguayan should not take the full blame for the recent poor results, with the team missing a number of key players through injuries and Nilmar failing to hit his top form.

Al Khurtiyat (3) [Domingos 23' John 33' Kaddioui 68']
Al Ahli (1) [Alain Dioko 47']

Al Khurtiyath ended a three-match losing streak with a deserved 3-1 home victory over Al Ahli.

Brazilian defender Domingos headed in Al Battat’s cross in the 23rd minute to give the home side the lead, then ten minutes later Bahrain International Jaycee John intercepted a poor back pass from John Bensonbefore slotting the ball home to double the score.

Two minutes after the break, Alain Dioko Kaluyituka brought his side back into the game when he headed home Abdul Rahman Mohamed’s cross.

But in the 68th minute, Al Battat’s pass found Youssef Kaddioui inside the box, and the former Morocco international used his skill to open up space for himself before sending the ball into the bottom corner with a neat right foot finish to restore AL Khurtiyath’s two-goal lead.

The win took “The Thunders” up two spots to eighth place, as Al Ahli slipped to tenth.

Al Gharrafa (1) [Mohamed Yasser 39']
Lekhwiya (2) [Nam Tae Hee 15' Mohamed Moussa 36']

This week’s top clash ended in a hard earned victory for Lekhwiya who are now fourth in the table, just one point behind the leading trio.

South Korea international Nam Tae Hee gave the two-times QSL champions the lead after only 15 minutes with a well-curled free kick from the edge of the box. 

Right back Mohamed Moussa benefited from a deadly mistake by Qatar International goalkeeper Qassim Burhan to double his team’s lead in the 36th minute, but three minutes later Mohamed Yasser reduced the deficit with a powerful long range effort.

Al Gharrafa clearly lacked the creativity of their suspended Brazilian playmaker Nene, and they could have gone behind further if Sebastian Soria capitalized on his chances, but they were presented with a precious chance to level the score four minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty. Lekhwiya goalkeeper Amine Lecomte made a great save to deny Venezuela International Miku from the spot andearn himself a man-of-match award.

Lekhwiya’s Algeria international Madjid Bougherra was sent off in the final minutes and will miss next week’s important clash against Al Jaish.

Muaither (2) [Campos 68'87']
Al Jaish (4) [Abdullah Ayesh 31' Jeddo 37' Ekoko 39' Wagner 74']

Three first half goals in the span of nine minutes stunned the QSL debutants Muaither as they slumped to their third successive defeat as Al Jaish maintained their unbeaten start.

Abdullah Ayesh headed in Wagner’s corner after 31 minutes to open the score.

After just five minutes, Mohamed El Sayed “Jeddo” made it 2-0 with a close range finish to a pass from Wagner, before setting up Ekoko for the third goal a couple of minutes later with a perfect cross from the right flank.

In the 68th minute, Saud Salem’s corner was met at the far post with a perfect finish from Bolivian attacking midfielder Jhasmani Campos for Muaither’s first goal, but six minutes later Wagner added a fourth goal for Al Jaish to secure the victory.

Campos scored another consolation goal for Muaither from the spot three minutes from time.

Qatar SC (0)
Al Arabi (4) [Wanderly 7' 67' 88' Ahmed Khalfan 51']

Al Arabi handed Qatar their second successive 4-0 to extend their unbeaten run to three games and move two places up to sixth position in the table.

Wanderley bagged his first league hattrick since joining Al Arabi a couple of years ago. The Brazilian striker suffered a knee ligament injury on his league debut in September 2011. He returned to the team in the following season but scored only four goals in 15 starts.

He opened the score after just seven minutes with a powerful header after a measured cross from Mohamed Malallah.

Six minutes after the break, Ahmed Khalfan was lucky to go on the score sheet, as his shot hit the post before bouncing off the backof the keeper and into the net.


Wanderley added his second in the 67th minute with a wonderful individual effort before completing his hattrick two minutes from the final whistle with a close range finish after a good cross from Jesus Meza.
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Blatter: Qatar is on the right track

November 9, 2013, 12:32 pm
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FIFA President Sepp Blatter made a short visit to Doha on Monday where he met with the Emir of Qatar HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and members of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Organizing committee to discuss issues related to the 2022 World Cup that will be hosted by Qatar.

At a joint press conference with the Managing Director of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Blatter asserted that the decision to award Qatar the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup is not reversible, quashing any doubts that the event will be moved away to any other country.

Blatter also also talked about other issues like the timing of the event, the migrant workers abuse claims and Qatar's ability to host a successful tournament nine years from now.

Meanwhile, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani stressed that governmental and non-governmental organisations in Qatar are working hard to improve standards for workers and residents in the country, promising the whole football community with an amazing World Cup in 2022. He also invited anyone curious on whatever issues regarding Qatar, to visit the country and experience it by themselves.

Here are the highlights of today's press conference 

Sepp Blatter - FIFA President 

Concerning the possibility of withdrawing the event from Qatar

"there is not one single doubt that the World Cup 2022 will be organised in Qatar, with all matches to be played in Qatar. The decision has been taken on the 2nd of December 2010 and will not be reversed"

Qatar 2022 Organizing Committee is capable of organizing the event in summer 

"The organizing committee here and the state of Qatar are willing and they are able to organize the World Cup in June and July if required, with a system of air conditioning in the stadium."

Concerning the possibility of moving the event to winter

"If it would be possible to play in another date, it would be better for the World Cup and for Qatar."

We want to consult now with the different participants in our game and our economic partners to find the date to play in the best possible conditions. The Secretary General of FIFA has been mandated to do so."

The event will not be held in January or February

"We will not play the World Cup in January and February. It would be totally disrespectful to the Olympic family and organisation when they have the Winter Olympic Games in January and February. We have also consulted our economic and media partners. So many different partners are with FIFA and the Olympic Games so we can not have the partners in two competitions at the same time."

Concerning the migrant workers abuse claims 

"The state of Qatar are aware of some problems. They have already started to react. We went to the Supreme Committee building and we listened to a presentation. What was presented to us shows that they are going forward not only today but have already started months ago with the problems with labour and workers."

"The labour laws will be amended and are already in the process of being amended."

"Special attention will be paid to the different inspections that are necessary, the government inspectors will receive more powers to enforce the labour legislation and there will be accommodation for all the workers. Actually, accommodation is built for workers with room for 60,000 to be opened this December."

"We have also learned that they have already had contact with the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) union, with the human rights international agencies and with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The part that has impressed me is the workers' welfare charter and their "Red Card to Forced Labour" initiative."

The positive report from BWI

"I have also received a letter from the BWI (Building and Wood Workers' International Union) who have been here and given us a positive report. They are asking FIFA to enter with them into discussions which we will certainly do. There is, at the end, only one solution and this is getting together with Qatar and FIFA for the benefit of the World Cup. On one side, football and the other, the benefit of the country."

The Social role of the World Cup

"The World Cup is in nine years but the problems have to be tackled now. We are not responsible for the laws but we are happy to see that the laws will be amended. I am happy that the World Cup in this country can be a catalyst for other countries when organizing competitions to build up the social part, that will also be registered as a legacy."

Qatar is on the right track

"I can say that Qatar is on the right track with the football and the government authorities of this country are on the right track."

"Concerning the specific organization of the World Cup I can tell you they are on a really good track in Qatar, and having been now in FIFA for many years and being with World Cup Organizations since 1978, I can say that Qatar will be ready to have a wonderful World Cup in 2022”

HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani - Managing Director of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee 

Qatar is ready to host in either summer or winter

Once we bid for the World Cup we bid on the premise of hosting in the summer. Having said that we are ready to deliver it whether it's in the summer or the winter. Either way it's going to be an amazing World Cup.

Qatar's efforts to improve workers' welfare

"We were happy to show the President a specific workers' welfare committee that we established to monitor and ensure that we are taking full advantage of the World Cup to bring about necessary changes in improving workers' welfare, not only in Qatar but also to be an example for other host nations. Taking on a World Cup is a challenge for any host nation. We are happy to have taken that spotlight nine years earlier than most, but we embrace it fully so we can bring about those necessary changes."

These issues have been taken to heart a very long time ago, once we started our exponential growth and development of the nation. I can ensure everyone that both governmental and non-governmental organisations are continuously working on a day-to-day basis to improve the standards for not only the workers but the inhabitants of this country."

Regarding the ongoing preparations to host the event

"Six of our stadiums are currently in different planning and design phases, with the rest coming along down the line, we are hoping to complete all the projects by 2020 to host the FIFA Confederations Cup with all our facilities in 2021."
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2013 Aspire4Sport Preview

November 15, 2013, 12:59 pm
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The fourth edition of Aspire4Sport Congress and Exhibition will kick off in Doha on Saturday.

Aspire4Sport is the leading sports business gathering in the Middle East. The world-class event is hosted annually by Aspire Dome and brings together key decision makers and business leaders from the sports industry, as well as many sports' legends.

This year the conference will focus on two major areas, first the venues during the "Coliseum" conference on November 16th and 17th, then "The Host Cities" on the 18th and 19th.

The "Stars Chat" event will be held daily and will feature well-known sports figures from around the globe, including basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, English football legend Alan Shearer and former British boxing star Lennox Lewis. The event is open to the public who can also visit the exhibition daily from 14:00 local time.

On Saturday, the organizing committee of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is expected to reveal a new project that represents a significant milestone on the road to the event that will be hosted by Qatar.


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Qatar 2022 unveils concept design for Al Wakrah Stadium

November 16, 2013, 12:00 pm
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The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee unveiled the new concept design for Al Wakrah Stadium during a press conference in Doha on Saturday.

AECOM, in association with Zaha Hadid Architects, have developed the new, innovative design under the guidance of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee.

Al Wakrah – famous for its fishing and seafaring heritage – is the proposed southern-most Host City for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™. 

Located approximately fifteen kilometres south of Doha, Al Wakrah has served as a vital commercial port and a gateway to the capitalthroughout Qatar’s history. Al Wakrah’s tradition is reflected in the stadium design, which captures the essence of the traditional dhow, an Arabian pearl fishing boat.

The design of the stadium and the development of an approx. 585,000 m2 precinct area surrounding it will embrace the cultural heritage of Al Wakrah and the adjacent historical settlement of Al Wukair.

The stadium will have a gross capacity of 40,000. The top-tiers of the stadium will be modular, allowing the stadium’s capacity to be lowered to 20,000.

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General, Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee

"Today’s announcement constitutes the first in an upcoming series of progress-related events and initiatives as we enter the early phase of delivering the promises we made to FIFA and the international football community during the bid. We are proud to reveal what we believe is a truly unique stadium design and surrounding precinct that will serve the population and act as a social hub for the community of Al Wakrah, and Qatar as a whole, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and for the years to follow. The stadium reflects what our country stands for from a cultural perspective.  It is modern, futuristic and functional.  But importantly, it remains true to Qatari heritage with the design and materials inspired by the traditional dhow boat."

Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General, Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee

"We are at an advanced stage in our planning. Al Wakrah is the first of six stadiums already in the latter stages of the design process. Our committee has issued ten major tenders to the market encompassing project and design managers and stadium-operation consultants."

"After a rigorous design process, undertaken by the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, in coordination with its stakeholders, the local construction market will see real work and progress. Works will begin to be visible on stadium sites."

"In 2014, tenders will be issued for early works, enabling works and main contractors for five stadiums.  These stadia will be in different construction stages by the fourth quarter."

"On Al Wakrah specifically, early works on the stadium site will begin in January, with the tender for the main contractor issued in the second quarter.  Stadium construction will begin in the fourth quarter."

"All construction contracts for the stadium will be issued in line with the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee’s Workers’ Charter and Standards – developed in consultation with international human rights organizations – which will enforce best practice, in line with the government’s vision for worker welfare, and cement the tournament as a catalyst to the improvement of workers’ welfare within Qatar and the region."

AECOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John M. Dionisio 

"AECOM is pleased to play a part in the global launch for the Al Wakrah Stadium Project and congratulates the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee on reaching this important milestone in its delivery programme. We believe the planning and design for the Al Wakrah Stadium and Precinct clearly establishes an international benchmark for sports venues in the region. We are delighted to be involved with the 2022 FIFA World Cup programme and to support the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee in reaching its vision. This is an exciting time for Qatar, and our global team of forward-thinking sports experts is well equipped to take on the innovative challenges that a project of this calibre will demand."

Zaha Hadid


"We are excited to be working on Al Wakrah Stadium. The design expresses its context, establishing a relationship with the city and its surrounding landscape."

Al Wakrah Stadium and Precinct - Facts and Figures

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-The stadium would be able to hostGroup, Round of 16 and Quarterfinal matches during the  2022 FIFA World Cup™. 

-The design uses sustainably sourced structural timber, reflecting the local seafaringtradition of Al Wakrahin the stadium structure.

-Primary arched trusses span over 230 metres across the stadium to create an iconic building and a column-free structure with unobstructed views from all seats.

-Spectators will be accommodated within a temperature-controlled (30 to 32 degrees Celsius) public realm covering approximately 72,000 square metres.

-Using a holistic design – incorporating shading, aerodynamic and mechanical cooling components – players and spectators will be kept cool and comfortable with a natural grass pitch cooled toan optimal 26 degrees Celsius and shaded spectator stands cooled to between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

-In order to meet the carbon neutral objective of the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar,the Al Wakrah Stadium design:

-supplies 15% of tournament energy using on-site renewable sources
reduces water use by 60%.

-uses 15% reused or recycled material in permanent structures.

-minimizes waste by 90% through design efficiency and construction waste management. 

-Al Wakrah Stadium will receive Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) 4 Star and LEED Gold certifications.

-The newly-built Al Wakrah Stadium will serve as the future home of Al Wakrah Sports Club.

-Stadium Net Capacity: 40,000 with 20,000 modular seats.

Transport

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-New Metro station in Al Wakrah, on the Red Line, located 4 kilometres from the stadium, with trains travelling every 10 minutes to Doha at an 800-passenger capacity per train 

-A transit fan zone adjacent to the Metro station will allow fans to transfer onto stadium shuttle buses

-Water taxis at the port of Al Wakrahwill connect seafaring fans to Doha and other cities across Qatar

-Over 100,000 sq. m. of roads, foot and cycle paths inside the precinct 

-No. of parking spaces:  6,000

Community and Sports Hub Legacy

-2x FIFA compliant training pitches fully cooled to an optimal 26 degrees Celsius

-A Multi-Purpose Indoor Arena with two indoor halls

-Four Tennis Courts

-2x Basketball Courts and associated support facilities

-A 4 Star Business Hotel with 150 rooms

-5,000-10,000 sq. m. retail space;

-A Hospitality Vocational Training Centre

-An international school for 1,000 pupils incorporating a 400m running track

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Aspire4Sport 2013 wrap up

November 20, 2013, 11:39 am
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Aspire4Sport Exhibition and Conference, the Middle East’s leading sports business convention, wrapped up its fourth annual edition yesterday as it announced record-breaking attendance levels.

Approximately 200 exhibitors took part, generating a remarkable 45% increase in revenue compared to last year, while visitors were up to 30 percent with 8000 more in attendance.

The convention, hosted by the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) and held at the Aspire Dome, was inaugurated on Saturday by His Excellency Salah Bin Ghanem Al Ali, Qatar’s Minister of Youth and Sport. Four days of high-level sports business discussions and networking sessions followed, interspersed with guest appearances from several sporting legends.

The event brought together the world’s leading sporting stakeholders and heralded the latest announcements on national sports development .

It also saw visits from nearly 419 delegations, including Denis Masseglia, President of the French Olympic Committee, and The Netherlands Ambassador to Qatar, Yvette Burghgraef. 

The exhibitors who came from 30 countries, reported an extremely favorable experience.

Mr. Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud, President of Aspire4Sport

"The main objective of Aspire4Sport is to promote and support the sports industry by creating a climate conducive to the fostering of mutually beneficial partnerships that enrich the region’s sporting industry."

"The continued success of this event supports Aspire Zone’s strategic vision of becoming a world leader of sporting excellence by 2020."

"Aspire4Sport is an enabling platform that allows us to continue to nurture future sporting talent in line with the human and economic pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030"

National Sport Day expansion

His Excellency Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), used the high-profile conference as a platform to announce that Qatar’s National Sport Day will be expanded into a week-long, annual National Sports Festival in an effort to boost Qatar’s sports tourism industry.

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HE Sheikh Saoud made the announcement in conjunction with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), and said, “The National Sports Festival signifies the unification of Qatar Olympic Committee and Qatar Tourism Authority’s efforts to successfully promote and market Qatar as a sports tourism destination by catering to international and regional fans through all-inclusive promotional packages."

Al Wakrah Stadium's design concept unveiled 

The design developers of Al Wakrah Stadium, AECOM in partnership with Zaha Hadid Architects, unveiled their new-concept design to the world and exclusively showcased details on what will be the first of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 arenas to be completed.

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During a Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee Update on day two of the conference, John M. Dionisio, Chairman and CEO of AECOM, said, “The Al Wakrah Stadium was designed in consultation with FIFA, and succeeds in adhering to its high standards. Any alterations we made to the design were to maintain the vision of creating a stadium reflective of Al Wakrah’s heritage.”

Aspire Zone development plans

Conference organizers AZF also unveiled ambitious development plans of their own, announcing a significant expansion scheme to further the nation’s ambition of achieving a world-class sporting infrastructure.

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Engineer Mohammed A. Al Meer, Manager of AZF Engineering Department, highlighted the mega projects planned and said, “The expansion will result in the creation of new facilities including training venues, indoor facilities, winter indoor facilities, target and martial arts facilities, a skate park, water rafting and an indoor cycling venue. It will host multipurpose conference facilities, including hotels, restaurants and residential real estate, which will assist in transforming Qatar’s burgeoning economy into a thriving metropolis.”

QFA-Shell new partnership

In addition, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association announced a new partnership with Qatar Shell that will see the energy giant become patrons of Qatar’s national football team for the next four years. Qatar Shell has sponsored the Prince’s Cup for the past eight years and recently signed two partnerships to launch the Koora Time Initiative, aimed at improving the health of Qatar’s youth.

Staab nominated for the "German Football Ambassador" award

At this year's Aspire4Sport the ‘German Football Ambassador’ program nominated Monica Staab, Coach of Qatar’s national women’s team, for its first prize, to be awarded to her at the Department for Foreign Affairs in Berlin next year. Staab received prize money to support social football projects in a country of her choice. She chose to support the United Nations-endorsed Layan campaign.

Sporting Legends

An array of sporting legends took to the couch during the ‘Stars Chat’ segment of Aspire4Sport, including football’s Alan Shearer, former heavyweight boxing world champion Lennox Lewis, and NBA superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning. 

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Local motorsports legend Saeed Al Hajri also took part in the Stars Chat event alongside the promising rallying star Abdulaziz Al Kuwari.

Brazilian Football Café (Exhibitor)

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First time participant Alexander Barbosa, President of sports marketing firm the Brazilian Football Café, said, “This is the premier sporting business event in the Middle East so it is fundamental for us to be here. It is even more fitting that it is being held in Qatar, hosts of the FIFA World Cup 2022, enabling us to show this country what we can offer it. This is our first year at Aspire4Sport but we will definitely be back next year as our experience has put us in contact with key decision-makers of the international sporting world."

The Look Company (Aspire4Sport Official Branding Partner)

The Look Company, a digital fabric printing firm, has had a presence at Aspire4Sport from the start, and remains steadfast supporter. General Manager Jacob Burke said, “We are official partners of Aspire4sports and have been for four years. It is exciting to see the expansion of the exhibition during this time, as well as the increase in high-profile visitors. Aspire4Sport has succeeded in fostering a reputation as one of the leading sports exhibitions in the world, and this year’s success proves just that."
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Al Kass International Cup kicks off on Monday

January 11, 2014, 8:20 pm
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French side Auxerre arriving at Doha Airport
Four of the teams set to compete in the third edition of Al Kass International Cup touched down at Doha International Airport today ahead of the tournament, which begins on Monday at the Aspire Academy football fields.

This evening saw the arrivals of France’s Paris Saint-Germain and Auxerre together with Spain’s Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, who will all take to the pitch on Monday. 

The remaining teams will arrive in the days ahead to complete the 12 squad line-up.

The tournament begins with last year’s runners up, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), taking on FC Barcelona at 16.15 on Monday.

The second match sees Qatar’s Aspire International play Real Madrid at 18.20, before last year’s champions, Fluminense of Brazil, come up against French newcomers Auxerre at 20.25.

Both of Aspire Academy’s under-16 teams will once more face their international counterparts including Real Madrid, PSG, FC Barcelona and Brazil’s Fluminense. 

This year Chicago Fire will be the first American team to compete in the event, while other newcomers include Manchester City (England), FC Porto (Portugal), AC Milan (Italy), Auxerre (France), and Kashiwa Reysol (Japan).

The teams will be divided into four groups of three, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals to compete for the Al Kass trophy.


The tournament, which is free to access for public and runs from January 13 to 23, was established by Al Kass in partnership with Aspire Zone Foundation and the Qatar Football Association to represent the future of football. The intention is to showcase tomorrow’s football stars and contribute to the development of Qatar as a proud footballing nation.
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راؤول مستمتع بالحياة في قطر ولم يقرر بعد الاعتزال

January 13, 2014, 12:00 am
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صرح أسطورة كرة القدم الإسباني راؤول غونزاليز أنه يقضي أوقاتاً رائعة مع عائلته في قطر، مؤكداً أنه لم يقرر بعد إذا كان سيتعزل مع نهاية هذا الموسم أم لا.
 

لمتابعة المقابلة باللغة الروسية

(http://www.sportsdaily.ru/articles/napadayuschiy-al-sadda-raul-gostyam-katara-budet-luchshe-esli-chm-proydet-zimoy-58570).

جاءت تصريحات النجم الإسباني في مقابلة حصرية أجرتها الصحفية آنا ليدستر في العاصمة القطرية الدوحة لصالح جريدة "سبورتس ديلي"الروسية، تحدث خلالها راؤول أيضاً عن خططه وأمنياته للعام الجديد وأسباب تفضيله لإقامة مونديال قطر 2022 في فصل الشتاء.  
نستعرض معكم أهم النقاط التي تحدث عنها نجم نادي السد:
عن حياته في قطر
"انا مستمتع للغاية بالعيش في قطر، لقد لعبت كرة القدم في أوروبا لما يقارب تسعة عشر عاماً، 17 منهم مع ريال مدريد وعامين مع شالكه في ألمانيا، والآن أحاول التركيز على قضاء وقت أكثر مع عائلتي، أنا وعائلتي نقضي وقتاً ممتعاً هنا وفي الوقت نفسه امتلك فرصة لعب كرة القدم مع نادي كبير مثل نادي السد."
"السد من أكبر الأندية في قطر، ومستوى الدوري القطري في تطور مستمر، في شهر فبراير المقبل سنبدأ مشوارنا في دوري أبطال آسيا، وأعتقد أن ذلك سيمنحني دافعاً كبيراً، أتمنى أن يقدم الفريق مستوى جيداً في تلك البطولة."
عن مونديال قطر 2022، شتاءاً أم صيفاً؟
"أعتقد أنه من الأفضل أن يقام المونديال في فصل الشتاء، أي وقت في الفترة بين أكتوبر ومايو سيكون جيداً، في رأيي أن نوفمبر سيكون شهراً مثالياً لإقامة البطولة."
"الحرارة تكون مرتفعة جداً في شهور مايو ويونيو ويوليو، لقد لعبت في شهر يوليو مع الفريق خلال فترة الاعداد للموسم الجديد والرطوبة كانت مؤثرة جداً. أن على ثقة من أن اللاعبين والجمهور لن يواجهوا أي مشكلة مع التكنولوجيا الجديدة التي أعدتها قطر داخل الملاعب، ولكن إقامة البطولة في الشتاء ستسمح للجميع بالاستمتاع بمزايا أخرى عديد في دولة قطر".
عام 2014، والأقاويل العديدة على شبكة الانترنت؟ هل سيترك نادي السد؟ هل سينتقل فعلاً لنادي نيويورك كوزموس؟ أم سيعود إلى ريال مدريد مدرباً؟   
"غريب جداً!!! انها المرة الأولى التي اسمع فيها كل ذلك؟ لم أخطط بعد لعام 2014، عقدي مع السد مستمر لمدة ستة أشهر، وأعتقد أن علي أن أقرر في خلال ثلاثة أو أربعة أشهر إذا كنت سأستمر كلاعب كرة قدم أم أعتزل".
"أنا سعيد بالحياة هنا، وفي حقيقة الأمر أنا متربط مع أكاديمية آسباير بعقد ينتهي بنهاية العام الحالي، ربما استمر في لعب كرة القدم، لا أعلم، لم أقرر بعد، سأشارك مع نادي السد في دوري أبطال آسيا، وإذا شعرت أن كل شيء على ما يرام، سأستمر في لعب كرة القدم".
عن دوره في أكاديمية آسباير
أعمل مع اللاعبين الناشئين التي تتراوح أعمارهم بين 12 و18 عاماً، انهم أكثر اللاعبين موهبة في قطر، والأجواء في آسباير مثالية لتطوير هؤلاء اللاعبين، منشئات رياضية على أعلى مستوى وبعض أفضل مدربي العالم، خلال الوقت القصير الذي قضيته هنا شاهدت اللاعبين يتطورون بشكل سريع للغاية، مستوى كرة القدم في قطر سيرتفع خطوة بخطوة وأنا على ثقة من أن قطر ستشارك بمنتخب منافس خلال مونديال 2022."
عن مسيرته الكروية، وأيام مجده مع ريال مدريد، وكونه أسطورة حية في عالم كرة القدم؟
"أشعر بالكثير من الامتنان لأنني أصبحت لاعب كرة قدم، لقد كان حلم الطفولة بالنسبة لي، وكنت محظوظاً للغاية بأنني أصبحت لاعباً في ريال مدريد لهذه السنوات الطويلة، ونجحت في الفوز بدوري ابطال أوروبا، كما أن تواجدي مع نادي كبير مثل شالكه في ألمانيا، كان بمثابة تجربة رائعة، أشعر بالفخر لأنني نجحت في إسعاد الكثير من الناس خلال مسيرتي."
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"ملعب نادي السد ربما يكون آخر ملاعب كرة قدم بالنسبة لي، أنا سعيد للغاية بتواجدي مع الفريق، لم أتعرض للكثير من الإصابات، وما زلت استمتع بكل مباراة أخوضها وكل حصة تدريبية، وهذا أهم شيء، خلال مسيرتي تلقيت الكثير من الدعم والاهتمام من أناس عديدة، وحتى عند قدومي إلى قطر على بعد آلاف الأميال من إسبانيا وأوروبا، ما زلت التقي العديد من الناس الذين يقولون لي شكراً على الأعوام التي قضيتها مع ريال مدريد، كل ذلك يشعرني بالامتنان".
عن هواياته خارج ملاعب كرة القدم
"بالطبع امتلك هوايات مثل أي أحد آخر، أهم هذه الهوايات هي عائلتي وأطفالي، رزقت بأربعة أبناء وبنت واحدة، واثنين من أبنائي يلعبان كرة القدم في أكاديمية آسباير، أيضاً أحب السينما والمشي."
عن حياة عائلته في قطر
"أبنائي في غاية السعادة، هناك مدارس على أعلى مستوى هنا، والطقس في الفترة الحالية أكثر من رائع، وبالتالي نقضي أوقاتاً مميزة".
آنا ليدستر صحفية مقيمة في الدوحة، نشرت العديد من أعمالها باللغتين الإنكليزية والروسية في عدد من وسائل الإعلام في روسيا وبريطانيا وقطر، من بينها صحيفة سبورتس ديلي الصادرة في مدينة سان بطرسبرغ الروسية وصحيفة "ديلي ميل"البريطانية، بالإضافة إلى قناة الجزيرة إنترناشيونال.
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Raúl enjoys his life in Qatar

January 13, 2014, 12:30 am
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Screenshot Russian Newspaper, Dailysports.ru
In an interview with Russian daily newspaper "Sports Daily" former ‘Real’ Madrid captain and Al Sadd star Raúl González talked about his life in Qatar, his plans and wishes for the year 2014 and on why he prefers a winter World Cup in 2022.
 
(http://www.sportsdaily.ru/articles/napadayuschiy-al-sadda-raul-gostyam-katara-budet-luchshe-esli-chm-proydet-zimoy-58570).

The Spaniard gave an exclusive interview to Doha-based journalist Anna Lidster (to follow her on twitter http://www.twitter.com/AShlyakhtenko)

Here are some of the best quotes from the interview with the legendary number 7:

About living in Qatar

“I enjoy my life in Qatar. I played for 19 years in Europe, 17 years with Real Madrid then two in Germany with Schalke 04, and now I am focusing more on the quality of life and on spending more time with my family. My family and I are enjoying our stay in here and at the same time, I continue to play football.”


“Al Saad is a big team in Qatar and the level of the league is improving step by step. In February, we will kick off our AFC Champions League campaign, and I think it will be a big motivation for me. I hope the team will play well.”

About the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the summer vs. winter issue

“In my opinion it’s better to play in winter, anytime between October and March, I think the weather in November will be perfect.”

“The weather is extremely hot in the months of May, June and July, actually I played in July during the preseason and the humidity was too high. I am sure the players and fans will have no problems inside the stadiums with the planned technology for the event, but in winter they will have the extra privilege of enjoying Qatar itself.”

About 2014? rumors on the web? Is he joining New York Cosmos or returning to Madrid as a coach? Will he leave Qatar?

“Really did they said all that, honestly, I did not even know. I do not have a specific plan for 2014, my contract with Al Sadd runs for another six months; I will have to decide after three or four months if I will continue to play football or not.”

“I am happy here in Qatar, and I actually have to stay for one more year as I signed a contract with Aspire Academy, maybe I will continue to play football, I do not know yet, now I will play with Al Sadd in the Champions League, if I felt good I will continue to play.”

About his role at Aspire Academy

“I work with young players at the ages between 12 and 18 years old, the most talented players in the country. With the excellent facilities they have here and the good coaches, it is great conditions for the development of these young players; in my time here I saw players progressing very fast, the level of football will rise step by step and I think Qatar will have a very good national team at the 2022 World Cup.”

About his career, his Real Madrid days, being a living legend, does he miss the old days?

“I feel very privileged for being able to be a footballer; it was my childhood’s dream and I was lucky to play so many years in Real Madrid and to win the UEFA Champions League with them, also my experience with a big and popular club like Schalke 04 in Germany was amazing. I am incredibly glad that I was able to make many people happy.”


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Schalke fans surround the Spanish legend in Doha
“Al Sadd Stadium may be the last stadium I play in, I am a very happy man, I didn’t pick a lot of injuries, I enjoy every game and every training and that’s the most important thing, throughout my career I had a lot of support from everyone, a lot of attention, and even now after I moved to Qatar, so far away from Spain and Europe, a lot of people approach me to say thanks for the years you spent with Real Madrid and Schlake04, it makes me feel privileged."

About his hobbies outside the football field

"Of course, I have hobbies like everyone else, the main one is my family, my children. I have five of them, four boys and a girl and two of my boys play football at Aspire Academy. I also like cinema and walking."

About his family’s life in Doha

“The kids are very happy. There are British and American schools, and the schools here are very good. the weather is nice right now, so we can really enjoy our time”.

Anna Lidsteris a bilingual journalist based in Doha. She contributes for a number of newspapers and broadcasting companies in Russia, UK and Qatar; few of which are Sports daily newspaper St Petersburg (Russia), British newspaper Daily Mail and Doha-based broadcasting company Al Jazeera English.
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Al Kass International Cup - Real Madrid (6) Porto (2)

January 14, 2014, 9:43 am
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Free-scoring Real Madrid handed a footballing lesson to opponents Porto with a classy 6-2 victory in Tuesday’s opening game of the Al Kass International Cup.

Just 24 hours after suffering a grueling defeat at the hands of Aspire International, Los Blancos took to the field knowing that a second successive loss would see them eliminated from the tournament.Yet they betrayed no signs of early nerves, displaying a quiet determination from the kick off.

Porto, making their debut in the competition, were quickly placed under pressure, with the ball seldom out of their half for the first few minutes as the Spaniards looked to press high up the pitch and impose themselves on the game.

Real attacker Nestor Gonzalez provided a real threat going forward from the get-go and made an early impact in the game’s sixth minute. Pouncing on a poor pass along the Porto back line, the 15-year-old made a clever interception on the edge of the box before getting his shot away to open the scoring, albeit via a lucky deflection off a Porto defender.

There was less fortune, however, for his attacking teammate Daniel Alcon, who managed to miss three clear goal-scoring opportunities in the space of five minutes following the opening goal. To compound Alcon’s misery, the number seven then had a strike disallowed in the game’s 21st minute after officials ruled his effort offside.

On a warm day at the Aspire Zone, the assembled crowd of Madrid supporters cheered their team on and, on the 23rd minute, their enthusiasm was again rewarded. The second goal owed much to the tenacity of midfielder Gregorio Teruel, who fended off challenges from at least five defenders at the edge of the Porto box before squaring to his teammate. Nestor Gonzales made no mistake, scoring his second goal of the game with a sweet shot directed into the bottom right corner of the net.

With Madrid now two ahead, Porto began to drift. Industrious midfield player Madiu Bari and striker Idrisa Sambu showed flashes of real talent but the Portuguese outfit failed to provide much threat going forward. And in the game’s 38th minute, it was no surprise to see Porto punished again. Firing Madrid’s third, and his second, goal of the game, Alvaro Alcantara volleyed home following a lobbed pass from teammate Nestor Gonzalez.

The half-time break did little to disturb Madrid’s momentum, who went further ahead within five minutes of the restart. Finding the ball inside the Porto penalty area, Oscar Rodriguez struck well to put the game beyond the Portuguese side. 

To their credit, the Portuguese side continued to compete strongly, and received a belated
 reward on 65 minutes when midfielder Miguel De Sousa fired home to make the score 4-1.

However, any hope of a fight back was short-lived as, three minutes later, a superb 25 yard free kick from Madrid’s Oscar Rodriguez arced into the top left corner, leaving Porto keeper Tiago Martins with no chance. Rodriguez’ strike was his first of the tournament, and he did not waste the opportunity to show off his impressive dance moves at the corner flag.

The engrossed spectators had already been treated to a six-goal fiesta, yet there were more to come. On the 70-minute mark it was Porto’s turn to add to their goal tally. Twisting and turning inside the Madrid penalty area, substitute Michael Da Silva broke past two defenders before firing a fine strike past goalkeeper and captain Luca Zidane.

Porto’s lively and confrontational approach had been apparent throughout the game, and it spilled over with six minutes remaining, when combative midfielder Bari was shown a straight red card after becoming embroiled in an ugly clash.

Madrid’s tempo had noticeably dropped in their previous game against Aspire International. Perhaps chastened by this experience, they continued to push forward. And, with seconds remaining, it was Nestor who claimed their sixth goal, his strike completing a superb piece of team play from the Spanish side.


Overall, it was a convincing display from Real Madrid who seemed to have quickly recovered their energy levels following Monday’s sapping defeat. FC Porto, meanwhile, must win their second game against the powerful Aspire International outfit if they are to retain a chance of claiming the Al Kass Cup.
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Al Kass International Cup - Aspire Qatar (1) Chicago Fire (0)

January 14, 2014, 10:01 am
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A confident display from Aspire Qatar resulted in a narrow victory over US side Chicago Fire during Tuesday’s Group D group-stage game. Though the Americans fielded four forwards in an attacking line-up, the game was not the high-scoring affair that many had expected.
A match in which both sides defended well and looked to keep possession saw much of the play confined to the centre of the park. A strike in the 18th minute was the one real exception to this rule, when an attractive move from Aspire resulted in the game’s only goal. Breaking forward from midfield, the Qataris put together ten passes before finding the feet of centre forward Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, who went on to shoot confidently past American keeper Raymon Leon Jr.
For much of the first half both sides played some attractive pass-and-move football, with the teams looking to the wings for much of their creativity. Chicago Fire midfielder Malik Johnnson was an industrious presence along the left flank, constantly looking to beat the Aspire Qatar right back Khalifa Almanaseer with his electric pace.
And, in the final minutes of the first half, the 15-year-old came close to pulling his team level when he broke through and went one-on-one with the Aspire keeper. Fortunately for the Doha team, a last-minute sliding challenge from defender Khalid Mubarak Al-Naimi was enough to prevent the American from getting his shot away.
 
Kicking off the second half, Chicago Fire struggled to get back on level terms. The US side had made a 15-hour journey just days earlier, and Aspire seemed in no mood to go easy, with some tired legs beginning to show throughout The Fire’s young team.
With the Qataris becoming increasingly dominant, Khalid Mneer Maazeed was a constant threat as he sprayed the ball around midfield. On the 61st minute he came close to doubling his side’s lead when he skipped past four Chicago players before driving a shot from just outside the box, his strike sailing narrowly wide of the post.
The Americans had the next real chance eight minutes later, when a curling free kick from Liam Scott Fraser was met by forward Jacob Montes’ powerful header. The effort came so close to finding the net that Chicago Head Coach Lawrence Sunderland had risen to his feet to celebrate, before realising that his player’s great effort had hit the post.
Still, the Qataris kept searching for that elusive second goal, deploying three attacking substitutes in an attempt to boost their advantage. One of these, forward Hassan Palang, was looking lively as the game entered its final stages. He fired three long-range shots to test the Chicago keeper within the final ten minutes, including a 35-yard effort which forced an impressive save.
This was to be the game’s last real chance, however, and despite some promising moves from Chicago Fire, the Americans were unable to penetrate Aspire’s solid backline.
 
Though Abdulrasheed Ibrahim will receive plaudits for his well-taken goal, particular praise must also go to Aspire defender Khalid Al-Naimi, who delivered a performance of huge potential. The Doha team can now enjoy their win until Thursday, when they come up against tournament newcomers Manchester City.
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Al Kass International Cup - FC Barcelona (2) Kashiwa Reysol (2)

January 14, 2014, 12:38 pm
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Tournament newcomers Kashiwa Reysol made an instant impact at the Al Kass International Cup on Tuesday night, battling to a remarkable 2-2 draw against early favourites FC Barcelona.

Putting on an organised, athletic display for the full 90 minutes, the Japanese outfit often dominated their Spanish opposition and could have won this compelling contest had it not been for a spirited second half fightback from Barca.

Frustrating the Catalans with their athletic, close-pressing style of play, Reysol kept a lid on Barca’s famed brand of pass-and-move football that had served the Spanish side so well on Monday when they beat PSG 4-3.

Putting 11 men behind the ball in the opening 20 minutes, the Japanese youngsters chose to sit back and frustrate their opponents until they sensed an attacking opportunity. After 24 minutes they seized their chance. Having not managed a single shot up to this point, the Japanese suddenly charged forward, with Kyohei Otani marauding down the left wing before cutting inside and squaring the ball to Shunta Nakamura. The forward made space for himself before firing accurately past Barca keeper Sergi Herrera.

Suddenly, the impressive fitness and athleticism of the Japanese youngsters threatened to overpower the Catalans, who had given their all in a highly physical encounter with PSG just 24 hours earlier. Reysol began to play further up the field, inspired by captain Kaito Anzai whose subtle movements allowed him to pull the strings in midfield. His passing expertise was there for all to witness in the 44th minute when he crossed to provide for Reysol’s Kyohei Otani, who finished calmly to make the score 2-0.

As the second half got underway it appeared that Reysol were prepared to settle for what they had got. Supremely well organised and highly vocal, the Japanese players’ constant calls to one another rang out in the cool night air as FCB attempted to break their resolve with wave upon wave of intricate attacks, repelled by a determined defensive line.

In the 53rd minute the Spanish side hit the post after Javier Duran managed to connect with a cross from the right. It was beginning to look as though it would not be Barca’s night. However, on 64 minutes, a devastating three-minute blitz on Reysol’s goal left the Japanese reeling and Barca in the ascendancy, as their unrelenting pressure finally brought reward.

First, South Korean forward Seungwoo Lee eluded three challenges before scoring his second of the tournament with an expert strike across the keeper into the bottom right corner. With a renewed sense of confidence, Barca began to look like the side that had imperiously dismantled a powerful PSG side the previous day. Just a minute later, captain Carles Alena Castillo had a goal disallowed after being ruled fractionally offside. Within seconds, however, FCB had equalised through David Olmo Carajal, who latched on to a deft through ball from Castillo before rounding the despairing keeper and applying a cool finish.

Stung into action, Reysol came out fighting and a feisty period ensued, with tackles flying in from both sides. Barca’s substitute centre back was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card on 70 minutes after mis-controlling a back pass and bringing down his advancing opponent. The referee opted to show yellow, and Reysol wasted their chance from the ensuing free kick on the edge of the area.

With ten minutes remaining caution set in, with both teams anxious to avoid a mistake that could gift victory to the opposition. However, there was still time for Barca to create a chance that almost won the game. A last-minute run from the superb Lee, an exact carbon copy of his goal-scoring move earlier in the game, put him one-on-one with keeper Taiga Someya. This time however, the South Korean’s shot was weak and easily saved. Lee instantly collapsed with cramp, illustrating the toll that this hugely competitive game had taken on the players.


With the game ending 2-2, Barcelona are now through to the knock-out stage of the tournament. The result means that Paris Saint-Germain will need to beat Reysol in Wednesday’s final Group A fixture if they are to progress.
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Local Organising Committee for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ Activated

January 27, 2014, 11:05 am
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His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, yesterday issued Decree No.3 of 2014 changing the name of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee to the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and Decree No. 4 of 2014 restructuring the Board of Directors of the Supreme Committee, which His Highness chairs.

“The formation of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the restructuring of the Board, as part of the Emiri Decree, aim to create the best conditions to host the world’s greatest sporting event, to catalyse development across all sectors in the State and to solidify the emphasis the government is placing on legacy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

Until now the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has undertaken the operational preparations for the tournament, which are the mandate of the Local Organising Committee (LOC). The newly activated LOC will be working closely with FIFA to fulfil all obligations under the hosting agreement. With 2014 being a significant year for the delivery of stadium and infrastructure projects in Qatar, it is a natural juncture to separate the roles of delivery and legacy from the tournament operations and hosting experience for fans and players during the 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy will focus on constructing proposed tournament venues and projects, coordinating with local stakeholders and ensuring a lasting legacy far beyond the FIFA World Cup™, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. All existing contracts with the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee will be automatically transferred to the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.


“This year is an important one for us as we begin to see five stadiums in different stages of construction in Qatar. The activation of the LOC is a further key milestone for us,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. “As we focus on delivery and the legacy of venues, the LOC will be working closely with FIFA, as well as undertaking all event planning, operational planning and making sure that all commitments in relation to the hosting agreement are fulfilled.”
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2014 Aspire Football Dreams - Another Inspired Generation

January 29, 2014, 8:54 am
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The global football stars of tomorrow gathered under the spotlight at a prestigious gala dinner held in Doha on Tuesday as part of the Aspire 2014 Football Dreams project, the world's largest scouting programme.

Hand-picked from over 490,000 applicants across three continents, the elite group of 34 youngsters are amongst the most talented on the international stage.

All the protégés – aged 13 and 14 – received certificates and gifts including a signed football from Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez at Tuesday’s ceremony, presented by ambassadors and representatives of their country of origin.

Following the event, the young players resumed daily training sessions at the Aspire Zone in Doha, where a further rigorous selection process will see the group whittled down to the final 20.

This select band of players, to be revealed next week, will be offered the chance to train like professionals at Aspire Academy as part of the Aspire International squad.

Aspire Director General Ivan Bravo said, "Each year the Aspire Football Dreams project offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to thousands of young athletes across the world to fulfil their footballing potential.

"The 34 players currently with us in Doha have been chosen from more than 15 countries by our excellent global scouting network, and are some of the finest young footballing talents in the world today.

“It was a great pleasure to attend the gala dinner and I hope it gave those present an opportunity to celebrate their arrival in Doha and a potentially exciting future ahead.”

Now into its seventh edition, the Football Dreams project has enjoyed unprecedented success in recent times, vividly illustrated last week when the Aspire International team was crowned 2014 Al Kass International Cup champions, emerging victorious over some of the most famous Under-16 teams in the world including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

Meanwhile, over the past year, many of the existing Aspire International squad members have had the chance to represent their national teams at youth level, with players from Nigeria, Gambia and Senegal all receiving international team call-ups in 2013.

These include Nigerian international Funsho Bamgboye, who was awarded Most Valuable Player at the Al Kass International Cup. He said, "The Football Dreams project is an unrivalled opportunity for all young footballers around the world like myself.

"Having come through the selection process personally, I really enjoyed the gala dinner and the chance to meet some of the new generation of stars that will be training with us here at the Aspire academies.”

As part of the three-week ‘boot camp’ selection process that the young footballers are currently undergoing, the players will come up against local teams based in Qatar and also compete in a friendly match against an u15 FC Barcelona team.

Meanwhile vigorous daily training sessions and medical examinations will also ensure that only the players with the highest possible potential are accepted into the final squad.

Joseph Colomor, Aspire Football Dreams Director explained the selection process. "Our Football Dreams project is not just about the players that can win today,” he said. “At Aspire we want the players that are going to make it tomorrow.

"During this three week period, we are not just looking at their performance on day one - the coaches want to see real evidence of their progress by the end of the three weeks.

"This entire project is about giving hard-working athletes the opportunities they deserve and, by next week, we will have the chance to make some people’s dreams come true."

One of the youngsters hoping to make an impression is Djibril Camara, a 13-year-old who was scouted last year in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea.

Djibril said, "All of us in Doha are so excited to be here at the Aspire Zone, using these amazing facilities and receiving such fantastic training.

"Getting through to the final 20 would mean the world to me and my family and I really hope that I can show my talents and impress the Aspire Academy coaches here in Qatar.”
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Aspire through the eyes of the stars

January 29, 2014, 8:57 am
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January was another busy month of football in Doha, with the Qatar national team winning their first ever WAFF title and the Qatar Star League making a return after a one month winter break, while Al Kass International Cup brought together the future stars of twelve well-known teams including Real Madrid, Manchester city and Paris Saint-Germain, and the tournament was won for the first time by Aspire International.  
Meanwhile, Aspire Zone was once again a hub for a number of world-famous football clubs who choose the state-of-the-art facilities of the Academy to be their base for intensive training and effective preparation for the second half of the season. 
French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish giants Real Madrid were the first to arrive and they played out a thrilling friendly at Khalifa International Stadium that ended in a 1-0 victory for "Los Blancos". 
That was followed by the arrival of four more clubs for winter training camps, World and European champions Bayern Munich (Germany), Schalke 04 (Germany), Zenit St Petersburg (Russia) and Red Bull Salzburg (Austria). 
Football fans in Qatar had another opportunity of taking a close look at a number of global stars during daily training sessions and friendly games, including the likes of Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer the best goalkeeper in the world, and his teammate Franck Ribery, the 2014 FIFA Player of the Year nominee, in addition to one of the best strikers in Europe, Brazil's Hulk of Zenit St Petersburg.
Doha-based sports journalist Anna Lidster, covered the four training camps for Russian newspaper, www.sportsdaily.ru with in-depth reports and more than 15 exclusive interviews.
Check out what the football elite said about Aspire Zone and Qatar during these interviews. 


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Pep Guardiola


Bayern Munich coach

"The facilities in Doha are fantastic. We have everything that we could ever wish for. The best thing about Qatar in the winter is its weather; excellent conditions for the perfect preparations."
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Roman Neustädter
Schalke 04 midfielder and German International
"It’s my second time in Doha and I would like to point out that it’s much cooler this year! the football pitches at Aspire are as always fantastic. The place is ideal for Schalke’s intensive training sessions."

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Benedikt Höwedes


Schalke 04 and German International
‘Even though I didn’t practice with the main team as I was injured at that moment, I still managed to get the most from the training camp in Doha. The team stayed at the Torch hotel which has excellent gym and sauna. Doha was the perfect place for me to recover from the injury and get back to the main team."
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Axel Witsel 
FC Zenit St Petersburg and Belgian International
"Training time at the Doha camp just flies. We had a few intensive workouts, played friendly games. I think we did a great job here. The team was a little bit surprised by the rain in Qatar. I’ve heard it’s rare. But overall, it was a great experience."


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Luciano Spalletti 


Head coach of FC Zenit St Petersburg
"Training conditions in Doha are just excellent. Perhaps, this is the best that I could ever imagine. The only down thing is that we didn’t have enough umbrellas to hide from the sun. Otherwise, everything is perfect. We liked it a lot and already thinking of coming back with the team again in February."
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Nicolas Lombaerts


FC Zenit St Petersburg captain and Belgian International
"Two training practices a day at Aspire fields allowed us to get back in shape after the winter break. Doha is a very convenient place for the team’s preparations. The hotel where we’ve been staying is just two minutes away from the pitches, that is the best possible quality. I have absolutely nothing to complain about."
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Florian Klein
FC Red bull Salzburg defender and Austrian International
"it’s my first time in Doha. I have heard before that this place has good pitches and that we will have all the facilities needed in order to prepare for the next stage of the season, and it turned out to be true – Aspire is perfect, it has everything we need. Qatar is not that far from Austria too and the journey to Doha was not too tiring. Also, the weather is perfect, so I hope that the team will get the most of the training camp in Qatar."
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Lucescu: "Working in Qatar was a good experience"

February 2, 2014, 11:58 am
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In an interview with Russian newspaper "Sport Den Za Dnem", Romanian coach Răzvan Lucescu, talked about his experience in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup and his father Mircea Lucescu, the legendary coach of Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, in addition his thoughts about the idea of a united Ukrainian and Russian Football League.

Check the full interview published on January 30th 2014.  

The 44-year-old joined El Jaish club of Qatar in 2012 and led them to third place finish in only their second ever season in the top flight, in addition to a first appearance at the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League, but a string of poor results this season costed him his job, despite the fact that his club was still in contention for the title.

Here are the most important quotes from the interview,


About Doha and the Middle East

Did you enjoy working in the Middle East? Is it different than working in Europe?
"In my opinion, life is about gaining experience and working in Doha was a good experience for me. Of course, every country is different. Europe is Europe, it has another style of work, different mentality, culture, different education for sport. When coming to a new country ,you automatically face different aspects, such as connecting with education, with mentality, you need to come out with a different approach for work. It's all an interesting and good experience. Also Doha is an international hub for football. Coaches and players from all over the world come here; South America, Europe, Asia, I have learned a lot while working in Qatar".

What about the level of football in Qatar Stars League? Could you compare it with any other leagues in the world?
"Actually the level of football in Qatar Stars League surprised me. It is good, maybe the rhythm of the games is not very high, but the teams are starting to be very well organized. I could compare the level of teams here with those in United Arab Emirates, they also have very good players and coaches. Success in the Asian Champions League shows that the league competition is very balanced. I think the level of Qatar stars league is improving year after year."

Qatar will host the World Cup in 2022. Do you think the country is capabale of hosting this tournament?
"For me its too early to speak about this. But, the investments being made and the specialists who come to Qatar to work on the tournament from all over the world will surely help the country to do the best they can to host a great Mondial. We still have eight years to go before the World Cup, it is a lot of time. The project is fantastic, but we will see".

What is your opinion on the weather issue? Is it physically bearable to play football during summer?
"I think that the best solution is to play during winter or the end of autumn. Of course, the Organizing Committee is capable of building air-conditioned stadiums. For example, Al Sadd Stadium already operates under advanced air conditioning system. We have played there; it was very hot outside and cold inside, and It was mid May. But I think for the guests that will be visiting Qatar during the tournament, it is better to host the World Cup during winter."

About his future plans

According to some information on the internet, you are leaving Doha to Bucharest, where you will be coaching local team 'Dinamo'. Is it true?
"No, it's not true."

Mircea Lucescu, your father, is the head coach of Ukraine's most famous football club Shakhtar Donetsk. Would you be happy to coach an Ukrainian or a Russian football team?
"For me every possibility is open. I came here, in the Middle East to coach for an interesting experience, and I might go all over the world to get more experience. Everything is open for me. It's my job to coach teams all over the world."

But your father is approaching 70, is that true that he will retire soon?

"We did not talk about this. But in my opinion, he should continue. He must do that because he is happy doing his job. He has a lot of energy, enthusiasm, he goes to the training sessions with pleasure. When you have all of this you must carry on."

Have you heard about an idea to combine Russian and Ukraine championships into one league? What is your opinion on that?

"I have heard about this and it seems to be a very interesting idea. Ukrainian and Russian championships will be combined and fans all over the world could watch very interesting games, very special games. The value of the United league will increase a lot. I don’t know if it's easy or possible at all to happen. But in any case it could be fantastic."

This is a translation of the interview conducted by Doha-based journalist, Anna Lidster and published in Russian language newspaper www.sportsdaily.ru

Anna Lidster is a bilingual journalist based in Doha. She contributes for a number of newspapers and broadcasting companies in Russia, UK and Qatar; few of which are Sports daily newspaper St Petersburg (Russia), British newspaper Daily Mail and Doha-based broadcasting company Al Jazeera English. 

Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/AShlyakhtenko 

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UN Special Adviser praises Supreme Committee’s Workers’ Welfare Standards

April 14, 2014, 10:15 am
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Following on from a visit to the Workers Cup football tournament which has reached the knock-out rounds, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr Wilfried Lemke, has praised the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s Workers’ Welfare Standards and called on their swift implementation.

‘During my visits to the Workers’ Cup and workers’ accommodation, I was pleased to learn about the developments happening in Qatar with regards to the safeguarding of rights of workers on construction sites for the preparation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In particular, the standards that have been formulated for workers' welfare are a good step in the improvement of conditions. Of key importance now is their implementation based on a strong monitoring and follow-up mechanism with appropriate capacity and resource allocation. A corresponding adaption of relevant laws would also contribute to the realisation of the World Cup Organising Committee's commitments,’ said Mr Lemke.

Meanwhile, as the Supreme Committee’s Workers’ Welfare Standards are already being implemented on the ground at the first stadium construction site for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ in Al Wakrah, a group of employees from the new stadium’s early works contractor, AMANA, has reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 Workers Cup.

Already into the knock-out stages of the tournament, the Workers Cup continues to improve following the inaugural edition last year. The group stage and round of 16 matches have concluded with a total of 44 games played so far and 8 teams qualifying for the quarterfinals.

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Mr Lemke praised the tournament after seeing the action and talking to players on the first match-day:

‘I strongly believe that such efforts will bear fruit in terms of the social legacy that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will imprint for and beyond the event.’

In 3960 minutes of exciting football at venues across Qatar – including Al Sadd Stadium, where Raúl González plies his trade, for the opening ceremony and inaugural match – a total of 198 goals were scored and celebrated by a large number of spectators and teams in attendance.

‘We are delighted see how this initiative has grown again this year. As we make progress on the ground, we will continue to reach out to communities across the country, and would like to wish all the qualified teams success in the quarterfinals,’ said Nasser Al Khater, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

‘The group stages have been a success, with the launch event at Al Sadd Stadium, the interaction between players, fans and team management on the pitch, as well as the enthusiasm of the players and general enjoyment of the games as some of the highlights so far. We look forward to seeing more top quality matches as the knock-out stages continue this weekend.’

The top goal scorer of the tournament is Dineesh Mogan of Barzan Super Kings, with 13 goals in four games, followed by Alexander Maina from AMANA with 6.

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The quarterfinals will be held at Al Wakrah Sports Club this weekend, with considerable crowds expected once more. So far the spectators total has been led by Gulf Contracting, who brought 3,000 fans to the opening match, while ETA Stars (500) and AMANA (250) have also supported their teams in droves. Around 1,000 fans attend a match day on average.

Padam Tamang, a player from Gulf Contacting said: ‘This is a very big opportunity for me to play in big stadiums, to exercise every day in training and have fun with my teammates. I’ve had a lot of fun, this is a great event.’

Over QR 40,000 in prize money will be distributed to the teams, with 1st place taking home QR 18,000, 2nd place winning QR 10,000 and 3rd place rewarded with QR 7,000. The best player wins QR 2,000, with the top goalkeeper taking home QR 1,500. A prize for best sportsmanship is to be awarded worth QR 1,500.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and the Qatar Stars League have jointly brought together 24 football teams to vie for the 2014 Workers’ Cup. The tournament aims to use the power of football to engage and create positive social change in Qatar.
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Sanz: Qatar 2022 will be a great world cup

May 5, 2014, 12:00 pm
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Former Real Madrid and Malaga defender, Fernando Sanz visited Doha in April to attend the LFP-Aspire U-15 Challenge, a junior tournament that was hosted by Aspire Academy and saw the participation of 10 Spanish clubs alongside two teams from Qatar.

Sanz, who also served as Malaga president for four years, is now the General Director of La Liga's Middle East and North Africa office, which is based in Dubai, with the main aim of promoting Spanish football to a wider global audience and generating interest from potential investors.

In an interview with to Doha-based reporter Anna Lidster, the former UEFA Champions League winner talked about football in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup, La Liga, Real Madrid, Gareth Bale and more, here are the best bits.

For the Russian language interview published in "Sport Den Za Dnem" news paper please follow this link http://www.sportsdaily.ru/articles/ispolnitelnyiy-direktor-la-ligi-fernando-sans-real-mozhet-pozvolit-sebe-vse-chto-ugodno-60218

Would you agree that the influence of Qatar is growing on the global football stage?

"We had the opportunity to come here and see how the level of football is changing in Qatar. The venues and the facilities are fantastic. In addition, you can see how competitive these young players have become. It is clear that the level of football here is consistently improving and there is no question that they are becoming really competitive on the global stage."

In your opinion, can Qatar host a successful world cup in 2022?

"Qatar is capable of hosting a good World cup. Absolutely no question about it. The world of 
football means very qualified: speakers, persons at federations and persons at leagues. Qatar has come, has checked all the boxes and proved how professional they are. The country has all the necessary resources to make a Word cup happen, to make it successful. We are publicly supporting Qatar in many ways and we have no doubt that it is going to be a great World cup."

Does La Liga's dominance by Barcelona and Real Madrid has bad effect on the popularity of other La Liga clubs?

"One of the reasons why La Liga has decided to open an office in Dubai is to leverage and enhance popularity of all La Liga clubs. Of course we are conscious about the level of popularity: "Real" Madrid and "Barcelona" have are way ahead of the other teams, they are extremely popular in the world. One of our main tasks is to increase the popularity of other clubs as well. There is a lot of work to do."

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How La Liga deals with UEFA's Financial Fair play regulations?

"We are really sensitive on this matter. I am glad to say that La Liga is a pioneer - the first European league that has created a separate department for financial monitoring of the league. The department is checking financial situation of all our clubs. We agree that modern football has to be sustainable and we should work  to  improve and balance the league.  In the past the finance of the league was a real headache, but now the situation is under control."

Last summer, Real Madrid paid a crazy amount of money to buy Gareth Bale. What is your personal opinion on that transfer?

"La Liga is always pleased to host best players in the world. Gareth Bale is one of those players. "Real" Madrid is in excellent financial shape. They definitely have potential to do any sort of investments. It's excellent news for the liga. A Club like "Real" Madrid are pretty conscious about the development in turns of business investments, and I think Bale is a good investment not only because of attendance, but also because of the increasing  value of TV rights and marketing opportunities. "Real" can afford anything they like and its also based on having the best players on the pitch."

The World Cup in Brazil is a few weeks away. Who are your favorites to win it?

"There is no secret - its going to be Spain, Spain and Spain. It can't be different for me."
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