Samuel Etoo, former Cameroon international and Global Ambassador for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), said that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will offer many unique and memorable experiences for fans when the next edition of footballs showpiece event heads to the Middle East and Arab world in two years time.
In an interview with Qatar2022.qa, Etoo highlighted the opportunities that the country will offer its guests in 2022, pointing out some of his favorite places to visit in the country, including Katara Cultural Village, which has many shops and restaurants, and Banana Island, which is a brilliant holiday destination, in addition to many wonderful malls and other destinations in Qatar.
Etoos initial experiences of Qatar were shaped during a brief playing spell with Qatar Sports Club during the 2018-19 season. He believes fans will be amazed by the friendliness of the people and the safety of the country. Qatar is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world.
"I like the people in Qatar, they are open and sincere," said Etoo. "I also like the fact you always feel safe and secure in Doha and throughout the country. These things should offer football fans a level of reassurance when they come to Qatar for the World Cup. I believe they will be able to have a great time visiting the country and watching the best players in action during the tournament," he added.
Regarding the sports facilities prepared by Qatar for the World Cup, Etoo said, "the players will have the chance to use the best facilities in the world, whether it is the spectacular new stadiums that will host matches or the world-class training facilities. One thing is for sure, what the players will experience in Qatar will be a reward for their efforts in qualifying for this World Cup."
The Cameroon international who appeared in four World Cups stressed that Qatar's World Cup will be one of the most compact tournaments ever staged, pointing out that fans and players will never be more than about an hour from any of the eight stadiums and will have the luxury of staying in the same place throughout the tournament.
"The players will not be so tired because they wont have to travel to games by plane," Etoo said, adding "they will be based in the same city and have the optimum time to train and prepare. That will be good because they will be fresher when they take to the pitch and compete."
Etoo concluded by saying "I expect (Qatar National Team) to be competitive because they have built a winning mentality by becoming Asian champions," said Etoo. "What is important now for Qatar is that they take advantage of every opportunity to play the best national teams in the world and learn from those experiences. They have some good players, including Akram Afif, who I rate highly. I wish them all the best," he said.
In an interview with Qatar2022.qa, Etoo highlighted the opportunities that the country will offer its guests in 2022
