The remarkably good popularity of football among Qatar’s Indian expatriates is reflected nowhere better than it is seen these days at the ongoing Qatar Indian Association’s (QIA) Football Champions League 2018.
Played over the weekends at Doha Stadium and started sine the second week of March, the Champions League 2018 has not only drawn huge spectatorship but the organisers have also succeeded in bringing about 80 footballers from India to represent various teams taking part in the league.
Out of the 12 participating teams, some have brought their players from different states of India mainly from Kerala. Considering the growing popularity of the sport, the teams have also brought players from some of the other Indian states, notably Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
The QIAF officials said the semifinalists had already announced their plans to bring more prominent Indian players for the matches to be held in the penultimate phase.
Organised since 2013, each edition of the league has seen a rise in the number of participating teams.
Care N Cure MAK Qatar team which lost their recent quarterfinal match against United Kerala, had in their ranks some of the mosted noted players from East Bengal Football Club, one of the best clubs in India. The team also had Joby Justin, a known striker. Similarly, another team featured three players from Kerala State team, which won the national championship for Santosh Trophy held in Kolkata last month. The teams have also included promising under-23 players in their sides.
“As the tournament has become more exciting, the participating teams are sparing no efforts to win and hence the tournament has seen the arrival of many top-class and emerging footballers from India,” said Safeer Rahman, QIA General Secretary.
Similarly, one of the participating teams has brought five players from Gokulam FC, one of the competing teams at the I-League, Safeer said. The QIA official said the semifinalists had already announced their plans to bring more prominent Indian players for the semifinal matches to be held in the coming weekend.
The organisers said that some of the teams had added in their ranks players, who had represented such glamorous teams as Goa’s Dempo Sports Club and Churchill Brothers.
While thanking the Qatar Football Association (QFA) for the continuous patronage to the activities of the QIA, Safeer said, “This year the local football body has given the floodlit stadium and match referees are absolutely free of cost.” The QFA has also donated attractive trophies for the finalists, he said.
QIA’s football officials are hopeful that the final, to be played at Al Arabi Stadium on May 11, would draw a full house crowd.
“Last year, we had a massive crowd of more than 12,000 for the finals, and this time we hope to exceed the figure,” said one of the organisers. He said football had always been a big attraction among the expatriates, especially those from Kerala, but it is the first time the teams were spending the large sums on bringing players from India in large numbers.
“Since Indian passport holders do not require visa anymore to arrive in Qatar, it has been easier for us so far this year to bring players from India,” said E P Abdulrahman, QIA Football President and an entrepreneur.
“However,  we at QIA regret our inability to bring any players from North Eastern states such as Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur, which are the powerhouses of the Indian football these days. Next year, hopefully we will be able to draw players from that region also,” said Safeer Rahman.




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