The Peninsula
DOHA: After winning their eighth Qatar Stars League (QSL) football shield, Al Rayyan have no plans to rest on their laurels.
On Saturday, Al Rayyan hammered Al Wakrah 5-0 for their 20th win of the season in which they have lost just one game.
Sheikh Saud bin Khalid Al Thani, Chairman, Al Rayyan, said: “We hope to continue to winning. We are happy we have smashed so many records this season.”
He said: “This win is for the Al Rayyan fans. These fans have a long history with us. I hope we continue in this trend.”
Sheikh Saud said Al Rayyan had ‘achieved amazing results throughout the season’.
“The fact that we have won with five rounds to spare clearly shows we are the best side in Qatar. We are the undisputed champions,” Sheikh Saud said in Al Kass TV programme ‘Al Majlis’.
“The support of the fans has been incredible for the team as whole,” Sheikh Saud said. “Their support encouraged the players no end. We managed to silence the doubters who thought Al Rayyan was finished’.
Al Rayyan were demoted to the second division at the end of the regular QSL season in 2013-14.
A quick recovery in the second division saw them promoted to the QSL at the end of the 2014-2015 season. Since last year in September, there’s been no stopping Al Rayyan who have lost just one game the entire season.
Head of football at Al Rayyan, Ali Salem, said the title was ‘well deserved’.“It has been a wonderful effort of the coaching side headed by Jorge Fossati, the backroom staff, the technical side of the club and last but not least - a great show by the players,” Salem said in the same TV show.
“It has been an exceptional season for the players. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Board of Directors headed by Sheikh Saud bin Khalid Al Thani,” Salem said.
“We can’t recall if a title race has been decided five rounds to spare,” Salem said. “This win is for the Al Rayyan fans,” he added.
“It (the win) is worthy of great celebration. The fans clearly deserve credit for backing the players and the team as a whole,” Salem said.
Al Rayyan will now switch their attention to the two remaining competitions - the Qatar Cup and the Emir’s Cup to be played in April and through to May.
