The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently hosted the Second Public Health Sector Football Tournament. A friendly match between the health sector leadership team and the former football stars of Qatar took place during the opening ceremony.
The former Qatar national football team players included Sultan al-Sufiani, Al-Mirghani Zain, Masad al-Hamad, Saad Sattam al-Shammari, Naif al-Anzi, Ahmed Khalifa, Faisal al-Dosari, and Hussein al-Rumaihi.
The tournament matches, held on the outdoor Aspire fields, saw fierce competition between the participating teams vying for the trophy, a statement said.
Ghanim Ibrahim al-Mohannadi, director of the Human Resources Department at the MoPH, said: "The success of the first edition of the Public Health Sector Football Tournament was a driving force behind the organisation of the second edition, which is one of the initiatives of the Employee Well-being and Wellness Programme at the Ministry."
The number of participating teams rose to 36 from the MoPH, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation.
The training sessions for the teams took place at the Ministry of Youth and Sports fields in Al-Thumama throughout March, in addition to seeking a specialist coach and fitness trainer from Al-Waab Club to ensure the players' safety and readiness.
"Such tournaments and sports competitions motivate health sector employees, enhance their readiness to work, and improve their creative abilities. Practising sport improves mood and helps alleviate the negative pressures that individuals experience due to the stresses of daily life," he said.
The MoPH continues to intensify its awareness of the importance of sport and physical activity in promoting health and quality of life. The ministry and its partners implement many programmes and projects to promote physical activity within the community, the statement added.
