Everywhere Football
Yezenia Navarro, Qatar
My name is Yezenia Navarro, I’m from Tijuana, Mexico. I’ve been living in Qatar for the past 8 years. I came to Qatar with my family for work. I had never heard of Qatar before, I didn't know what to expect, but I love this country more and more each day. I’m the mother of 3 boys, Dominick Yos-Ahiat, Alan “Totti” Gianlu and Viery Gianni - all of them have practiced soccer at some time in their life.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
I want to show how beautiful Qatar is, the places, traditions, art, the people, the culture. There are many photos of my son Viery Gianni, who is 10 years old. I took all these photos around Doha in some of my favorite spots - National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, MIA Park, Souq Waqif, Aspire Park, Corniche and Katara.
I wanted to show my son and regular people spending time together playing football. Football unites people and families. At MIA Park the guys there were construction workers on their free day. On Fridays you can see many of them playing at MIA Park and Corniche. At Aspire Park (with the Torch Hotel in the background) the kids were playing football barefoot. It was interesting to see that even when they have shoes, they decide to take them off to kick the ball. I think that's how they are used to playing.
What is your favourite photo? Why?
I love all of them but my favorites are the one in Souq Waqif with the pigeons and the one with the royal guards riding the camels. But I also love the one in the Katara Amphitheater and the one in the NMoQ.
What role does football play in Qatari society? What changes are happening in Qatari football culture?
Now that Qatar is hosting the 2022 World Cup, football has become very important for all Qataris and residents. I now see many people are taking their children to soccer schools. Many events involve soccer and even girls are participating. Many communities gather together during the weekends to play football.
What is the most surprising or interesting part of Qatari football culture?
We have famous football figures and celebrities living or coming often to Qatar and sometimes they participate in soccer training with the children. It’s very easy to be really close to them. We are very blessed with all the events and opportunities we have in Qatar.
Why is football so important for your community?
Many Mexicans work just to save money for the World Cup. For us Mexicans it’s not only a sport, it’s also a way to gather families together, to build stronger friendships and more. It’s beautiful when you see a stadium full of Mexicans singing a Mexican song together that represents our country; everyone gets goose bumps.
What does football mean to you?
My history with football is so funny. My husband loves football. He loves football so much that during the World Cup, football is a priority. I was expecting my 2nd child in 2006. The doctors told us that our son had a high chance of being premature because my first child also was. My baby could be born at any time between June and August, the dates of the German World Cup 2006. I knew that my husband would go, although I hid it until the last moment.
My husband went to the World Cup and my son was born at 7 months on June 19, 2006. My son was going to be called Totti Gianlu, but as my husband was not there I named him Alan Gianlu, but everyone still called him Totti! My husband met his son 2 weeks later and I didn't want to know any more about soccer other than my children's practices until my husband invited me to the Russian World Cup in 2018. I really experienced the passion of football during the first games of the World Cup.
It was so passionate that I shared my experience on all my networks every day, all day. I returned to Qatar and it was to my surprise that a few days later I received a message from the official FIFA page on Instagram telling me that I had been selected as one of the 3 international winners of the #RivalHug competition. They would take me (and a guest), with everything paid, back to Russia to enjoy the World Cup Final. I took my son Alan "Totti" Gianlu and since then football has been very present in my daily life. Now I collaborate with the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee as a leader of the Mexican Community.
Football is a passion and a part of my history. We are all an important part on this Road to 2022. We are all building and giving for this World Cup.
What are the opportunities for female footballers in Qatar?
I heard about a female football tournament for communities in Qatar and it’s really exciting. Women play an important role in society and I’m so happy that the Supreme Committee are giving an opportunity to women to take part on this Road to 2022.
What will be the biggest impact of the World Cup in 2022?
All communities will be coming together with one voice, with one passion. I can’t wait to see how it is going to be. We are all creating something important, we will be part of Qatari history.
What is the future for football in Qatar?
I’m sure and I hope that Qatar will be a world football capital after the World Cup.
