Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup (C) with officials at the draw.
Football fans in Qatar can expect plenty of excitement during the 46th Emir Cup, the draw for which was held at the City Centre Rotana Hotel yesterday.
Coaches and officials of various clubs who attended the gala ceremony yesterday – in itself one of the grandest events on the domestic sporting scene – said the tournament brings out the best in the players as they seek to close out the season in style.
Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup was confident of his team’s chances, saying that The Lions would be keen make amends for their heartbreaking loss to Xavi’s Al Sadd last year.
Al Rayyan had taken the lead through Rodrigo Tabata in the final last year, but after Hassan al-Haydous had equalised early in the second half, Jugurtha Hamroun produced an injury-time goal to give Al Sadd the title.
It’s a match that Laudrup clearly remembers.
“Last year we had a great chance. The match was heading towards the penalties with the scores level but unfortunately for us Xavi produced an exceptional pass and Hamroun made no mistake,” Laudrup said after the draw.
Al Rayyan had even accounted for QNB Stars League champions Lekhwiya in the semi-finals with a comfortable 3-1 margin before Hamroun’s 91st minute goal put paid to their title aspirations.
Laudrup said this year the team would try to go one better.
“We are always confident ahead of a tournament. We go out hoping to win it. Let’s see how it goes this time.”
Al Rayyan, who finished third in the QNB Stars League, however lamented the absence of the prolific Abdelrazzaq Hamdallah through injury.
“Unfortunately, he is injured but we have others who can step up, he added.
Meanwhile, Al Gharafa coach Bulent Uygun was also looking forward to the tournament after his side bowed out of the Asian Champions.
“We did well to finish in the top four which is a great boost for our morale. It means we will start our campaign from the quarter-final stage. We have to win just three matches to win the Emir Cup,” he said.
“It’s going to be a tough competition and there are five or six sides who can win it. But we have some good players who are highly motivated. It’s anybody’s game.”
Earlier, former Qatar stars Mubarak Mustafa and Younis Ahmed conducted the draw, occasionally bantering about the times when they got the better of each other during their playing days.
Mustafa, 45, played as a forward for Al Arabi between 1990 and 2003 and later had stints with Al Khor and Al Gharafa. He was also the top scorer in the Qatar Stars League three times: the first being in the 1991–1992 season, the second in the 1992–1993 season, and the final time in the 1996–1997 season. He also represented Qatar in 84 international matches.
Younis was Qatar’s top goalkeeper during the 80s and 90s and spent two decades with Al Rayyan, joining them in 1977 when he was a young teen. He played 75 matches for the national team.
The top four teams in the QNB Stars League – Al Duhail, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa will kick off their campaigns directly from the quarter-final stage of the competition, where they will be joined by four other teams who will have to work their way up from rounds one and two.
Second division teams will seek to capture the spotlight from top-flight outfits although that usually proves a tall order as the gulf in class is far too obvious.
In the first round, Mesaimeer will meet Al Ahli, Qatar Sports Club face Al Wakrah, Al Markhiya clash with Al Shamal, and Al Kharaitiyat take on Al Shahania. The four matches will be played over two days – April 23 and 24.
In the second round, the winner of Mesaimeer vs Ahli will face Al Sailiya, the winner of Qatar Sports Club vs Al Wakrah will meet Al Arabi, the winner of Al Markhiya vs Al Shamal will take on Al Khor, and the winner of Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Shahania will play against Umm Salal. These matches will take place on April 28 and 29.
In the quarter-finals on May 3 and 4, Al Duhail, Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa will join the competition and face the winners of the third rounds.
The semi-finals will be played on May 11 and 12 and the final on May 19.
