Inside Al Jazeera FC
Amer Al Barashdi, Qatar
My name is Amer Al Barashdi, an Omani raised in Qatar. I lived my childhood in Qatar. Football is my life. I grew up playing football at school and in my neighbourhood. At age 15 I joined Al-Arabi SC where many of the most talented players in Qatar play (like Khalfan Ibrahim and Hameed Ismail who represented the Qatar National Team in the following years). I didn’t get my chance at Al-Arabi. I was training with the team for one and a half years, so decided to look for another opportunity with a different team.
Al Ahli was close to Al-Arabi and close to my house, so I joined Al Ahli and tried to prove myself there. Unfortunately, it didn’t work again. But that doesn’t stop the loving relationship that I have with football. In 2007 I went to university, so I looked for a football team to join to play in the university league. I joined the team of my course and in 4 years we won the league twice and the cup three times. And I was the Captain of the team. In 2013 I had a chance for a trial with FC Groningen in the Netherlands but again I was unlucky to not continue with the club and sign a professional contract.
In 2015 I joined Qatar Airways as a Planning Supervisor. I joined the Qatar Airways football team in 2016, playing in different tournaments inside and outside Qatar. In 2019 I participated in the AFC World Series as captain of the Qatar Airways football team. Al Jazeera FC is a team I started in 2011 and it is one of the Qatar Community Football league teams.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
I wanted to show how the understanding of football has changed in Qatar over the years. And how people really love the game and are ready to play anywhere and enjoy it. Football in Qatar changes from year to year, since winning the right to host the World Cup. Families support their kids more than before to play football and join clubs and academies. I lived my life loving football and move from stage to stage with football. From street to school to college, to be the owner of Al Jazeera FC and now captain of Qatar Airways football team.
Who is in the photos? Where were the photos taken?
One of the pitches that I always remember is the home of Furjan League and Ramadan Tournaments in Al Thakhira City, north of Qatar, where all Qataris and people who live in Qatar enjoy amateur football during the year. In 2013 we won the Ramadan tournament for the first time here.
Al Muntazah is an area in Doha City where I lived for 15 years. This is the old football ground where I grew up playing football. I can see all the good memories in that ground, where we had a team and we played against different teams every weekend. I spent the best football moments of my early life here. It was the first football ground I played football in, where I have great memories as a kid. It is where I learned the basics of football and where I met a lot of friends who stayed as friends until now. Football is the best example of friendship. The shirt that this kid is wearing is last season’s kit of Al Jazeera FC, the team I started. The kid reminded me of myself and how I was so passionate about football when I was young. And now I have my own team in the QCFL.
People enjoying 5-aside football at the Aspire Zone, in front of one of the World Cup stadiums. These pitches are free for the public, as the country supports the community to play football and enjoy the game. In this place people gather and form teams by meeting people maybe for the first time. Football gathers them. Football is FRIENDSHIP.
The Doha Corniche, where the kids enjoy football in the heart of Doha. Football in Qatar is everywhere all the time. People love football here and enjoy it wherever they are.
What role does football play in Qatari society?
Football plays a big role in Qatari society. Doha is a sports city. Qatar is one of the first countries to start a National Sport Day. Football is everywhere in Qatar. In Qatar there is a different tournament or football event for every part of the community.
Football leagues are in schools, universities, workplaces and academies. The Workers’ Cup is a great example for the community, as it involved the workers in Qatar and gave them the chance to compete in high level stadiums. Women’s football is also taking a good place in Qatar. Women enjoy their football leagues in schools, colleges and have their own committee.
Are there any good stories connected with the people or teams you photographed?
Al Jazeera FC is a team that I started in 2011. We started playing Ramadan 5-aside tournaments with only 5 or 6 players. Year after year this team becomes bigger and my dream to grow one of the strongest teams in the Qatar community. We have won different trophies with different players. In 2013 we started to manage Al Jazeera differently with social media. I established awards for the players to motivate them such as Player of the Month, Top Scorer, Player of the Season and Idol Player. This changed a lot in the team and brought better results.
2018/19 was the first time Al Jazeera participated in an 11-aside amateur league. Proudly with 15 different nationalities, Al Jazeera played its first season in QCFL. We reached the quarter final for the first time in the QCFL cup. Al Jazeera FC was promoted to Division 2 and will be one of 40 teams in the QCFL for the 2019/20 season. The aim and dream for the team is to be one of the TOP teams in Qatar.
What changes are happening in Qatari football culture?
After winning the hosting of the World Cup, a lot of academies started in Qatar, and also different leagues, tournaments and competitions.
What is the most surprising or interesting part of Qatari football culture?
Qatar is small country with a small community with different nationalities. In Qatar you can enjoy football with people who have a different understanding or culture of football. It’s different from other countries where you find only a few nationalities to play football with. Qatar developed very fast and the development is interesting. The stadiums with cooling technology will be really surprising for the people who will visit Qatar during the World Cup as the weather in Qatar is warm.
Why is football so important for your community?
As Qatar has a big community of different nationalities, QCFL is the best example of unity for the community where all nationalities are enjoying football weekly.
What does football mean to you?
To me football means joy, friendship and best moments of my life. I had the most successful moments of my life with football. My best friends are from football. In my living room I proudly keep my achievements in a Hall of Fame. They are my awards in football since I was at school up to the current tournament.
What will be the biggest impact of the World Cup in 2022?
It’s a dream come true to all Arabic people. Letting people from all over the world learn about our culture and our passion for football. I think people will experience a different type of Word Cup in Qatar, as the stadiums are all close to each other.
What is the future for football in Qatar?
After winning the chance to host the World Cup, the love and understanding of football in Qatar changed a lot. Families are supporting their kids to join clubs and be the stars of tomorrow. The future of football in Qatar is going in the right direction, as the country won Asian Cup recently.
