Multiple resignations at Al Rayyan FC

The resignation of HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hassan al-Thani was announced yesterday. The board member of Al Rayyan Club and team manager has stepped down after a disastrous season which has seen the Club relegated from the Qatar Stars League, the premier football competition of the nation.

He resigned from both the board and from the first team; he had only been in the job a brief time after taking over from Ali Salem Afifa mid-season, the previous team manager. 

HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hassan al-Thani took over in January and looked to make a fresh start with the appointment of Manuel Jiménez, the Spaniard didn’t have many options as many members of the team who had done so well the season before had left.

Abdullah Mutlag al-Qatani  - the Deputy Team Manager also resigned as he too had come in mid-season and failed to keep the team from being relegated.

Rayyan were not only relegated from the Qatar Stars League finishing in 13th place but also failed to progress in the AFC Champions League.

40 people are eligible to elect in the next Al Rayyan General Assembly

Al Rayyan FC published an official statement on Tuesday 29th regarding the General Assembly which will be held in the beginning of June. The official statement clarified which Club members will have the right to vote and who is eligible for the new positions such as deputy president of the club and the various positions on the board.

The statement says that 40 people from the general assembly will have the right to be considered for an official position at the Club. This is according to the rules, specifically article 45 of the General Club Rules published by the Qatar Olympic Committee.

Candidates should have worked in the Club for at least 3 years, from when the membership was issued until the deadline before the General Assembly, except for recently founded clubs such as Lekhwiya and El Jaish.

According to the rules, the number of people who will have the right to vote in the next election will be 1,200 members. The only prerequisite is that members must pay the QR200 fee for the membership card and have more than 6 months membership under their belts.

Qatar Workers’ Cup quarter-finals’ first leg is a high scoring affair

The 2014 2nd Edition of the Qatar Workers’ Cup matches for week 6 of the competition were played on Friday 25th of April at Al Wakrah Sports Complex. In week six, the tournament reached the quarter-final stage and is heating up nicely with some high scoring games.

Building on the successful inaugural tournament in 2013, this year’s Workers’ Cup has expanded from 16 teams to 24, providing an opportunity for even more people to participate and enjoy the beautiful game.

The tournament aims to use the power of sport to engage and create positive social change in Qatar. Teams including workers from businesses in various sectors of Qatar’s economy are participating in this year’s tournament.

The results from week 6 of the quarter-final first legs are as follows: Played at Al Wakrah Sports Complex Friday 25th April

Gulf Contracting 2-4 Out Look, Amana 4-5 Tanzifco Co WLL

The week 7 second legs will be played at Aspire Dome today:

17:00 kick-off       Gulf Contracting  Versus   Amana

18:45 kick-off        Out Look               Versus   Tanzifco Co WLL

Macala renews contract with Al Ahli

Qatar Stars League side Al Ahli has renewed its contract with veteran coach Milan Macala, it was confirmed on Tuesday 29th April. The 70-year-old guided Al Ahli to sixth spot in the final QSL standings earlier this month, a feat the club have not witnessed for many years.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad al-Thani said Macala’s outstanding contribution last season made it impossible for the club to ignore the Czech.

Sheikh Ahmed said Al Ahli was very close to finishing in the top four in the final QSL standings.

He said the team produced good results and the coach should therefore be rewarded with a new contract.

Al Ahli will feature in the third round of the on-going Emir Cup, the country’s most popular football event.

Bel Hadj makes final list for player of the season accolade

Algeria international and Al Sadd player Nadi Bel Hadj was asked about this season’s best player award which he has been nominated for. He expressed his wish to be seriously considered and that he feels he should win the award, he also wanted to thank all the people within Qatar’s top football league who nominated him.

He said, “The decision will not be in my hands that is up to the responsible people from all of the Qatar Stars League Clubs.”

The Sadd player expressed on the Club’s website that the real target now for the Club is to win the Emir Cup in order to compensate for losing the title to Lekhwiya this season as well as their failure in the Qatar Cup.”

El Jaish players appear at Aspire Schools Football Festival

On Tuesday 29th of April, Aspire held a school’s football tournament in the state-of-the-art indoor facility. The school children got the opportunity take part in a fun and well organised tournament that saw 20 schools take part. The event started in the morning and went on throughout the day as the teams were whittled down for the final itself.

The day was a great experience for all the children who got the opportunity to show off some good skills and meet two members of the Qatar Cup winning El Jaish team.

El Jaish midfielders Abdulrahman Abkar and Mohammed Ahmed were signing autographs, meeting their fans, giving tips and generally interacting with the children at the tournament. The players looked impressed with what they saw and were eager to talk and get to know the children taking part.

Over 300 children in total were involved and by all accounts the day was a great success with first place going to the American Academy and Qatar academy from Al Wakrah come in second after a tough fought final. Third spot was grabbed by Qatar International School.

To end a great day, all the children were given QSL goody bags with various football treats.

Hearing impaired people take part in Balanty Challenge

On Monday 26th April Khalid al-Khoubasi, Senior Relations Partners Expert for the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy participated in the ‘Balanty Challenge’ along with a group of hearing impaired people at Aspire zone in round three of the competition. The competition which had hearing impaired people taking part saw three qualifying for the next round.

The organisers included the hearing impaired people who wanted to take part and make this an inclusive event for everyone. The aim of the tournament is to get everyone in Qatar kicking a ball and creating a fun footballing experience at the same time.