DOHA: Qatar Football Association (QFA) yesterday unveiled the mascot of the AFC U23 Championship, saying the country is looking forward to welcoming the participating teams next month for the ‘third biggest football event’ on Qatari soil.
One of key events on the AFC calendar, the AFC U23 Championship will be held across Qatar from January 12 to 30.
The event will be held at four venues including Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Grand Hamad Stadium, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and Qatar Sports Club Stadium.
“This will be the third biggest football event on Qatari soil. We will be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. QFA hosted the 2011 Asian Cup four years ago,” Mansour Al Ansari, Secretary-General, QFA, said yesterday.
The event holds great significance for the participating teams as the top three sides in Doha will get 2016 Olympic Games berths, Al Ansari said at a special ceremony held at Lekhwiya Stadium.
“Qatar will be playing the opening match of the tournament against China here at Lekhwiya Stadium on January 12,” Al Ansari said. The other two sides in Qatar’s Group A are Syria and Iran.
“This event has huge following across Asia as youngsters playing for their national sides can go on to represent their senior national sides,” he said.
“We are ready to welcome the teams,” Al Ansari said yesterday.
“Through this event, we will once again showcase our love for football and sports in general.
“And yes, we are prepared for an amazing opening ceremony,” the QFA Secretary-General added.
Yesterday’s gathering also officially kicked-off the ticket sales campaign.
The event mascot - Najim - was unveiled on the pitch at Lekhwiya Stadium, one of top football venues in Qatar.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Hani Ballan, CEO of Qatar Stars League (QSL), Al Ansari, Ahmed Al Harami, COO of the organising committee, and Khalifa Al Haroon Marketing Director of the LOC among a host of other football officials.
According to details, the mascot depicts a young desert fox sporting football attire. The mascot also ‘depicts intelligence, speed, and power that of a young football player’.
Miniature mascots are available at kiosks promoting the event, QFA said.
Qatar’s Olympic squad - coached by Felix Sanchez - has been in training for the last three weeks, having organised camps in Spain. The Qatari side will also undergo another training camp in Turkey in the first week of January where they will play a couple of friendlies against Nigeria (January 3) and Iceland (January 6).
Once back in Doha, Qatar will launch their final preparations for the important tournament, QFA said.
THE PENINSULA
