FROM LEFT: Hamad Saleh Al Mannai, Director of Competitions of Qatar Football Association (QFA), Ahmed Al Buainain, QFA Executive Committee Member and Khalid Al Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications of QFA, during a press conference at QFA headquarters in Doha, yesterday. PICTURE BY: ABDUL BASIT
Doha: Fourteen teams will take part in the first edition of the Qatar Amateur League (QAL), it was announced by Qatar Football Association (QFA) yesterday.
The tournament will begin on Monday November 11, and will run until the end of the football season.
The league will take place in eight different stadiums.
These are Estad Al-Doha, Al Wakrah, Al Sailiya, Al Arabi, Qatar Sports Club, Al Khor, Al Gharrafa, and Al Sadd.
The league are backed by Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Qatar Stars League (QSL) and QFA, and will be the third official football competition in the country, behind the QSL and Qatargas League.
Speaking on the launch of QAL during a press conference at QFA headquarters in Doha, which was attended by Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Ahmed Al Buainain, QFA Executive Committee Member said: “We are happy to announce the launching of the Qatar Amateur League that is set to kick off on November 11 and run until the end of the football season. QAL aims to bring together a total of 14 teams representing the social, corporate and government communities of Qatar.”
He added: “QFA plays a pivotal role in laying the foundation for community football. Organising these leagues showcases QFA’s efforts in nurturing football culture in Qatar, particularly amongst the community.”
Hamad Saleh Al Mannai, Director of Competitions at QFA said a committee will be in charge of supervising the league.
Al Mannai said: “There will be a committee supervising the league and ensuring that the regulations are implemented to the highest standards. The players will be registered in QFA’s system, the same way the players of the local clubs are registered when an official league is organised.”
Khalid Al Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications at QFA said: “Our plan is to market and promote this league in the best way possible. QAL allows all social, corporate and government communities of Qatar to integrate via organised football to expand the overall Qatar football pyramid. Organising this league not only showcases QFA’s goal to develop community football but assist all communities to have access to football.”
The 14 teams are Madinat Khalifa South, Copros Utd, QIAFL, GOA, Galia Masria, Kaharma, Al Waab, QIFF, Al Mataar, Al Thakira, Friends United, Al Quds, Makeen, and Military Command.
“The chosen teams were selected from an initial 50, and were chosen on how well the communities were managed, support from fellow community members and organisational skills. Thirty players will be in a squad,” said a QAL official.
The winners will win QR40,000, the runners-up bag QR30,000 and the third-placed team will take QR20,000.THE PENINSULA
