Children enjoy fun-filled football programme

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Dozens of  children, aged five to 15, enjoyed a fun-filled football programme, titled “Passport to Passion”,  at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) park yesterday afternoon.

Supervised by trained staff from Qatar Foundation, boys and girls underwent basic agility and accuracy training before playing in an actual match with others.

Tariq al-Sada, head of Qatar Foundation’s Press Office, told Gulf Times that they started the first of a series of football activities which he described as a “big international campaign” launched by the institution in partnership with FC Barcelona.

“This is our target: we want to share our passion with the community and we are very happy with the attendance,” al-Sada said. “We want to see more in the coming weeks.”

The “Passport to Passion” campaign, to be held every Friday and Saturday, will run for five weeks.

In a bid to expand the programme and reach more young children, al-Sada disclosed that they would also hold activities in other places like in Al Wakra park, Katara beach and Aspire park and Awsaj Academy pitch four and Qatar Foundation.

Methad, a teacher in a school in Doha who has been playing football for years, had brought his three children to the event.

“This is a good motivation for children. We all know they have been very busy in school for a week,” he said.

Citing the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle, he stressed that engaging children into sports gave them more options than watching television too much.

“Since it prevents obesity and other illnesses, this kind of activity should be repeated from time to time. Sports is the solution to all these problems,” he added.

Like Methad, a mother also lauded the initiative saying that they had been participating in all the sports activities in Qatar.

Her daughter wore a colourful jersey of their favourite team as she played with other girls. The mother said the support of the parents to their children in sports was  crucial, especially in football.

“As a parent, you have to allot more time for them so they will be more inspired and motivated to pursue their goals. Sport equipment like shoes and uniforms are another thing.”

She believes that sports teaches many values like discipline, camaraderie, and teamwork which can be applied even outside the playing field. “And that is a real passport to success.”