My family and I watched the final of the Gulf Cup football between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It is not usually my habit to follow Arab football, since I would rather watch a game between an Arab and a foreign team where I cheer for the Arab team, irrespective of the country.
In fact, I was extremely impressed by the performance of the two teams — Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, I am objectively compelled to say that the Qatari team was outstanding in both performance and sportsmanship.
I was afraid that the political disagreements between Gulf States would reflect negatively on the players. However, I was overcome by the exemplary sportsmanship of players and fans alike.
Few seconds before the game ended, I received a call from a friend in Riyadh, congratulating me on the victory of the Qatari team. I told him to wait until the referee announces the end of the match, since the outcome of a football match could change even in the dying moments.
He said, the result was foregone for Qataris. Before we ended our conversation, the referee blew the whistle and Qatar were declared the winners. The friend said, “Didn’t I tell you that the Qatari team is creative and deserves to win.”
While talking, I received another phone call from Riyadh, which I couldn’t answer because I was still busy finishing my current conversation. So the caller sent me a text message saying:
“Qatar achieved a victory, an athletic triumph, and a political accomplishment at the same time, by overcoming the Gulf political crisis since its GCC counterparts accepted that Qatar host the next summit.
We, the Saudi people, congratulate you and your Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on these wonderful achievements. We also applaud you for being selected to host the 2022 World Cup. It is a great honour not only for Qatar but for the entire GCC and Arab world, that for the first time in FIFA history, a world cup will be played in a Gulf country.
It is again an honour for all of us and a pleasure to know that Qatar was cleared of all the false allegations related to hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Finally, Qataris deserve to be proud of their leadership’s achievements. We congratulate and envy you on what you have already achieved and will achieve.”
A childhood friend from Jeddah sent me yet another congratulatory message for Qatar winning the Gulf Cup. He said, “Our defeat is indeed bitter but your footballing skills are becoming outstanding and you deserve this victory.”
I have also received many messages from the United Arab Emirates and one of them said: “Congratulations Qatar for winning the Gulf Cup.” So I reminded him in a tweet that he earlier said Qatar was an enemy state. However, I pardon him for what he said because that was before the latest GCC reconciliation.
Yet another message from an Emirati friend, who doesn’t really follow football, said: “Congratulations Qatar on your innovative skills in winning the Gulf Cup and your diplomatic ability of convincing Gulf leaders to go back to Doha after a period of estrangement.”
On this occasion, I cannot help but extend my warmest congratulations to the Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who set up the basic building blocks of this athletic edifice, which is unparalleled in the Middle East. For the same occasion, my thanks go to the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who followed into the footsteps of his father.
I also join all Qatari people in celebrating the return of our football team from Riyadh with the Arabian Gulf Cup.
It was indeed a fantastic reception worthy of the accomplishments of the national team in the 22nd Gulf Cup.
To end, congratulations Qatar on the triumph of our football team; well done for our leadership on its diplomatic achievements.
We hope to see more victories in the future with regard to education, health, management, and media (hopefully more freedom of speech).
