The Common Language
Abdullaah Thadhani, Qatar
My name is Abdullaah Vinod Thadhani. I am an IT Consultant from Sri Lanka, living in Qatar for the past 10 years. I have been following sports in Qatar for over 5 years as a passionate amateur photographer, then turned entrepreneur by creating a single community digital platform for sports called Rush360Sports. As a young schoolboy, I played football in Under-11 House matches and other sports as I grew older. From where I come from, sadly football is not the main sport and less importance is placed on it.
What role does football play in Qatari society?
Football in Qatar has no end in passion and in eagerness to engage; the love for it has no barriers or boundaries and the country is full of energy for this one sport – and that comes from all ages. In a family gathering, I heard a 3-year-old girl saying to her father “TV is not interesting (the news was on), put on the football”. Wow, there was the energy within. Moreover, I see young schoolgirls attending regional football matches without boys and I see their enthusiasm and knowledge about the game. So, I would conclude that football is a well-accepted sport in Qatar.
Who is in the photos? Where were the photos taken?
This is Al Thumama, a community sports park, where the residents (young & older) usually jog and play football. The children we see are from the neighborhood, they are from different cultures and speak different languages, discussing team selection for a good game. What I like is how children gather from different cultures and speak just one language, football.
A 3-year-old girl with a football. What attracted me to take her photo (with the permission of her parents) is that she loves to play even though she does not understand the game, kicking from one side to the other by herself at Doha Corniche Al Bidda Park. She displays sheer confidence with the ball and eagerness to play. It was like she was expressing a command for the ball that says, “this game is mine”.
There were photos from two matches. One was Jassim bin Hamad Stadium during the AFC Champions League match between Al Sadd and Pakhtakor Tashkent FK (from Uzbekistan). The other was at Al Duhail Club (Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium) for a Stars League match played between two prominent rival local clubs, Al Sadd and Al Duhail. There was so much energy and noise at the stadium, expressing the love for football and the local clubs. The stadium was filled not only with VIPs and adults, but also with young children as young as 8 years old cheering away and enjoying every moment. Wow, that was indeed a cool experience for me. The house was almost full for a club match. People of Qatar love football, there will not be any empty stadiums for the World Cup in 2022. No chance.
At the MIA Park (Museum of Islamic Art), where a small group of boys from one family arranged the goals and split two teams (two younger versus one older brother), while the parents were relaxing and enjoying family time. This is very common in Qatar. I was in time for the beautiful sunset and the surroundings are elegant and magnificent, a well-kept park for all families, a treasure well placed in my heart. Qatar is a beautiful place to be.
I saw this happy looking lady in a Qatari flag outfit at a few matches and that drove my curiosity to find out why she was dressed like that. A small window of an opportunity came up at the Al Duhail Stadium and she said, she is from Thailand (if I remember well), she loves football, and she loves going to all the matches in Qatar. It amazed me to see residents of Qatar going that extra mile to show solidarity for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
What changes are happening in Qatari football culture?
It is not only the clubs and federations playing a role in promoting football, but many academies have also evolved over time to nurture football at a very young stage. I was a witness to the AFC U19 Qualifiers being played in Qatar recently, and it was amazing how all of the teams performed and displayed good levels of discipline.
What is the most surprising or interesting part of Qatari football culture?
What surprises me most is that the people of Qatar follow international clubs, leagues and players very closely and are up to date about the sagas that unfold.
What will be the biggest impact of the World Cup in 2022?
The biggest impact will be in socioeconomics, exchange and display of culture, and equality, exposure to great opportunities and openness to diversity. Bridging gaps in communications, trust, and business.
What is the future for football in Qatar?
The importance of football to Qatar is beyond the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Hosting the World Cup is just a stepping stone in Qatar developing and bringing out the hidden talent that exists within its great people. Football is an energetic disciplined sport, where tactics, strategies, and teamwork come to play. The country will go on to produce quality players to compete at the highest international stage.
