Soria renews contract with Rayyan for one season

By Sports Reporter/DohaAl Rayyan Sports Club has announced the renewal of the contract of their striker Sebastian Soria for one more season.Soria joined Al Rayyan at the beginning of this season from Lekhwiya. He has demonstrated strong performances which contributed to the team’s eight straight wins in the league so far this season. Al Rayyan is on the top of the league table with 24 points, no draws and no defeats. Soria has also played previously for Al Gharafa, Qatar Sports Club and Lekhwiya. He is one of the most prominent strikers in the Qatar Stars League who has once more proved his proficiency with Al Rayyan this season. In addition, Paraguayan midfielder Victor Caceres returned to Doha on Tuesday due to the sickness of his son. He was granted permission from the Head Coach of the Paraguayan national team to return to Doha. Al Rayyan is preparing for their Round 9 match against QSC next Sunday at Al Sadd Stadium. Mesaimeer match, the most important of the season: Wahid MohamedAl Wakrah midfielder Wahid Mohamed believes his team’s clash with Mesaimeer will be a very important one. “I consider the Round 9 clash with Mesaimeer to be, perhaps the most important match for us this season. Al Wakrah plays well against the big teams, but we need to be cautious against Mesaimeer as it isn’t an easy game at all.”Wakrah will play Mesaimeer tomorrow at l Gharafa Stadium. Mohamed said Wakrah has to play  with only one purpose of winning the game. “Our opponents are playing well, especially in their match against Al Rayyan. They have good players and a distinguished coach. We must go into this match with concentration and work hard to gain the three points.”Mohamed pointed out that the results will improve during the upcoming period. He said that his side has some good players, but that bad luck had plagued them in recent games. “I expect that the results will change and we will regain our balance and status. We are all working hard for the team.”Al Wakrah is in 11th position with six points, they lost their recent match to Al Rayyan 2-1.Aim of Umm Salal is to finish in the top four: MahmoudUmm Salal striker Ismail Mahmoud spoke of the importance of their next game versus Al Ahli in Round 9 of the Qatar Stars League. The match is to be played November 20.He explained that the team was keen to benefit from the league break due to international matches and that he hoped this would help them finish in the top four.Ismail Mohamed said: “The Al Ahli fixture won’t be easy, especially because Al Ahli is one of the fiercest teams and they achieved good results in previous Rounds. They are a complete team with a good combination of foreign and local players.”Ismail indicated that the reason behind not playing any friendlies during the stoppage period was due to the technical staff wanting to rehabilitate injured players in order for them to join the team once the league resumes. Mahmoud pointed out that the first aim of the football team is to be among the top four teams in addition to winning one of the titles this season. He added: “We might have a small chance of winning the Qatar Stars League, but we are looking to do well in the Qatar Cup or Emir Cup. Umm Salal is different this season after bringing in some good players.”Mahmoud indicated that he hopes to do well this season and finish at the top goal-scorer standings.“I scored two goals for Umm Salal this season and the top goal-scorer award isn’t far from me hopefully. However my main ambition is to help my team and that’s why I am thinking about my personal ambition to win the top goal-scorer award because this would also help my team.”Mahmoud said the competition for the league title was fierce this season, and that Al Rayyan fans have given the league a much needed boost. QFA and Qatargas organise fanzone at Al Khor StadiumQatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatargas will jointly host a mega Qatargas League Fanzone on Saturday at the Al Khor Stadium on the occasion of the match between Umm Salal and Al Shahania. The fanzone will offer people of all ages from Al Khor and Al Thakhira communities a wide range of recreational activities and games. The fanzone will be located outside gate 3 of the stadium and will have a capacity of 3,000 people. It will also feature a range of activities including bubble football, tennis football, bucket ball, human bowling, dribble goal, batak wall, speed cage, face painting, drawing competition for children and many more. A big food corner will be situated in the centre.Organising this fanzone falls under QFA’s CSR strategy to involve all segments of local community in the tournaments and competitions organized by QFA. A junior five-a-side football tournament which brings together 8 teams from Al Khor Community will take place on the same day at the training pitch of Al Khor Stadium. The registered teams consist of residents from Al Khor community, with the winning teams will receive medals.QFA and Qatargas are giving a unique opportunity to Al Khor community girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 10 years to be part of the game and escort the Umm Salal and Al Shahania players onto the pitch. The 22 escort kids will have to register at Al Waha club in the Al Khor Community compound and will be selected by an anonymous draw. In an attempt to involve the community heavily in the football events organised, QFA and Qatargas have reached out to the Al Khor community residents by giving them the opportunity to volunteer in the Fanzone and run the games and activities.