DOHA VISIT: Barcelona star Lionel Messi poses with a falcon after announcing his association with Qatar’s telecom company Ooredoo. Messi Foundation and Ooredoo will be working together on a number of welfare and development projects.
By ND Prashant/Doha
The excitement was palpable. One of football’s greatest modern legends was about to enter the Aspire auditorium.
Shutterbugs, videographers and journalists scrambled to occupy the best seats in the packed hall and waited with bated breath to welcome the messiah of football —Lionel Messi.
A group of young children from Qatar, Palestine, Indonesia, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives occupied the front row undergoing a series of rehearsals on the questions they had lined up for their favourite football icon.
More than excitement, nervousness had clearly set in among the kids but that was soon put to rest with the Argentina and Barcelona star taking centre stage in blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
“Honestly, I couldn’t sleep last night. I was so excited at the prospect of meeting him. It’s once in a lifetime opportunity and I still can’t believe he was sitting right in front of me. I’m a diehard Barcelona fan and Messi is their star player. This meeting I shall cherish forever,” said a beaming Majid Said al-Shebli, who had been flown in from Oman.
What caught the eye of Feras Ammar Anabtawi of Palestine was how ‘humble’ Messi was. “I have seen how stars behave but he was so down to earth, so gentle. It was simply thrilling to know that a football star can be so simple,” said Anabtawi.
For Ibn Sina of Baghdad, who lost a leg in a car accident, this was a dream come true. “I always wanted to meet Messi. Today, that dream has been realised and I’m really excited. His football has brought a lot of joy to me and to meet him in person was simply unbelievable,” said a thrilled Sina, balancing himself on his crutches but sporting a broad smile.
If Messi’s on-field magic has mesmerised millions of football fans across the globe, here he was providing that same ‘midas’ touch off the field.
His visit to Qatar was part of playing an active role in promoting life chances for the youth in collaboration with Qatar’s telecom company Ooredoo, for which he is the global brand ambassador.
Ooredoo is working with Messi and the Messi Foundation on a number of key projects to make a difference across Ooredoo’s markets. The first in the series of initiatives will focus upon young people’s welfare and development.
“I was very much looking forward to coming to Qatar and partnering with Ooredoo on initiatives to enhance opportunities for youth from around the world. Whether on the football pitch or off it, I’m always glad to make a difference in the community, and bring smiles to the children,” said Messi, who flew straight to Doha after the trophy celebration with his team following Sunday night’s 2-1 victory over Real Vallodolid.
The La Liga Champions have racked up 94 points this season that includes 30 victories, four draws and a mere two losses. With two more games to go in the La Liga action, they can have a shot at joining Madrid in the record books. Barcelona are six points away from tying Real Madrid for the most points in a single season in La Liga history.
However, apart from the success at home, Barca’s performance in the Champions League has been forgettable, and Messi felt it was time for him and his team to look towards the future.
“Winning the Spanish League was exciting but we would have liked it to do it by winning all the matches. However, that was not going to be easy with most of the Spanish teams showing improvement this season,” said Messi adding that, their poor show against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League had a lot to do with fatigue.
“Those matches were towards the end of the season and after playing so many matches, players were a bit tired. However, I wouldn’t like to put it as an excuse as we should have been able to turn it around. Now, it is time for me and Barcelona to look towards the future.”
Messi has scored 46 goals in 32 games in the 2012-13 season.
ABOUT LEO MESSI FOUNDATION
The Leo Messi Foundation stems from an initiative launched by Leo Messi with the support of his family and strives to ensure that children around the world enjoy equal opportunities to make their dreams come true.
Since 2007, it has been working tirelessly to accomplish its mission on behalf of children and adolescents whose health is at risk. Whether on a national or international level, the projects conducted by the Foundation all focus on education and health, particularly the battle against childhood cancer and Chagas disease.
“I reached my dream of becoming a footballer and I want you to know that I fought hard to get here and that I have to fight even harder to keep it up.
“Today, I want to use my own efforts and my own success to help the neediest children, because it daily moves me to see a child smile, when he thinks there is hope or when I see that he feels happy. That is why we decided to create the Leo Messi Foundation and I will keep fighting to make children happy with the same enthusiasm and dedication that drive me in pursuing my football career,” says Messi.