ID :
207594
Fri, 09/16/2011 - 17:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/207594
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Launch Ceremony for the Qatar Stars League 2011-2012
Doha, September 15 (QNA) - Qatar Stars League Corporation (QSLC) held a launch ceremony for the Qatar Stars League 2011-2012 which contests is to kick off tomorrow, Friday.
The launching ceremony held in the Four Season hotel on Thursday, was attended by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, the president of Qatar Football Association (QFA) .
President of the Qatar Football Association said while welcoming the ceremony attendees, "We are today in connection with the launch of the new season of the Qatar Stars League, which we hope to be the best after winning the honor of hosting the Qatar World Cup 2022, and the presence of trainers at the highest level from different world continents and we hope to take advantage of their expertise in the development of Qatari football.”
He expressed pleasure with the presence of four arab coaches in the Qatari league, including a Qatari coach, wishing him success and to honour the national coaches.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani made clear that the Qatari arbitration has reached an advanced stage "and wished to continue improving and flourishing through its administration of most games of the new season and commended meantime the role of the administrators of arbitration in the QFA.
It is worth mentioning that a sense of apprehension runs through the words of coaches as they look forward to the Qatar Stars League (QSL) which, they feel, would be a far tougher challenge, owing to more reasons than one.
The fourth edition of the QSL kicks off on Friday when former champions Al Wakrah host holders Lekhwiya. Twelve teams will fight for domestic supremacy over eight months.
Unlike in the past, when two or three teams started as favorites, the new season should have a lot of surprises in store. Lekhwiya and seven-time winners Al Gharafa enjoy a slight edge over the rest, but even they would have to be on their toes right from the start and consistently deliver if they are to live up to the tag and put it past the rivals.
To count the least, eight teams Lekhwiya, Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Arabi, Qatar Sports Club, Al Sadd, Umm Salal and Al Jaish look capable of finishing among the top four. Jaish are newly promoted into the top flight, but the club management has ambitiously rebuilt the team as they look to emulate Lekhwiya s dream journey in the last season. Umm Salal, who did Qatar proud by making it to the semifinal of the revamped AFC Champions League in 2009, too have made a host of new signings and they promised a lot by finishing as runners-up in the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup.
Finishing in the top table would be too high and asking for teams like Al Wakra, Al Kharaityat, Al Khor and Al Ahli, but they too are capable of pulling off surprises on their days.
The QSL, one of the most star-studded Leagues in Asia, has witnessed a few star players switching their base to Doha. Of course, as in the past, Sadd roped in the biggest of all names, Senegalese striker Mamadou Niang from Turkish club Fenerbahce.
Ze Roberto (Gharafa), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwiya), Mourad Meghni (Umm Salal) and Karim Ziani (Jaish) are some of the other big names to have joined the QSL this season. Rayyan are the only team not to have changed any foreign players, even though they have a new coach in Uruguayan Diego Aguirre.
Paulo Silas (Arabi) and Lotfi Benzarti (Kharaityat) are the other new coaches in the League. While Jaish signed Pericles Chamusca, who managed Arabi last season, Qatar SC elevated assistant coach Saeed Chiba after Sebastiao Lazaroni took over the national team.
Most of the Qatar internationals and Olympic team players belong to leading clubs Gharafa, Sadd, Rayyan and Arabi, and they will be frequently switching club and national team duties this season. Their absence in the pre-season affected the preparations of teams like Sadd, with their coach Jorge Fossati openly expressing his disappointment.
Moreover, Sadd will feature in the AFC Champions League quarterfinal, starting with an away leg on Wednesday against Iran s Sepahan.
Lekhwiya, Rayyan and Gharafa will represent the country in next year’s premier continental competition. They all will feel added pressure in the second phase. The world’s leading clubs have this worry, but Qatari outfits have only limited bench strength and it will in turn put pressure on the coaches.
The club managements in Qatar and the Gulf region in general are infamous for their impatience and, in no mood to accept the reality, make coaches scapegoats. That naturally makes most of them desperate for results and reluctant to give chance to the youngsters. The lowly clubs are feeling the real pinch.
The launching ceremony held in the Four Season hotel on Thursday, was attended by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, the president of Qatar Football Association (QFA) .
President of the Qatar Football Association said while welcoming the ceremony attendees, "We are today in connection with the launch of the new season of the Qatar Stars League, which we hope to be the best after winning the honor of hosting the Qatar World Cup 2022, and the presence of trainers at the highest level from different world continents and we hope to take advantage of their expertise in the development of Qatari football.”
He expressed pleasure with the presence of four arab coaches in the Qatari league, including a Qatari coach, wishing him success and to honour the national coaches.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani made clear that the Qatari arbitration has reached an advanced stage "and wished to continue improving and flourishing through its administration of most games of the new season and commended meantime the role of the administrators of arbitration in the QFA.
It is worth mentioning that a sense of apprehension runs through the words of coaches as they look forward to the Qatar Stars League (QSL) which, they feel, would be a far tougher challenge, owing to more reasons than one.
The fourth edition of the QSL kicks off on Friday when former champions Al Wakrah host holders Lekhwiya. Twelve teams will fight for domestic supremacy over eight months.
Unlike in the past, when two or three teams started as favorites, the new season should have a lot of surprises in store. Lekhwiya and seven-time winners Al Gharafa enjoy a slight edge over the rest, but even they would have to be on their toes right from the start and consistently deliver if they are to live up to the tag and put it past the rivals.
To count the least, eight teams Lekhwiya, Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Arabi, Qatar Sports Club, Al Sadd, Umm Salal and Al Jaish look capable of finishing among the top four. Jaish are newly promoted into the top flight, but the club management has ambitiously rebuilt the team as they look to emulate Lekhwiya s dream journey in the last season. Umm Salal, who did Qatar proud by making it to the semifinal of the revamped AFC Champions League in 2009, too have made a host of new signings and they promised a lot by finishing as runners-up in the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup.
Finishing in the top table would be too high and asking for teams like Al Wakra, Al Kharaityat, Al Khor and Al Ahli, but they too are capable of pulling off surprises on their days.
The QSL, one of the most star-studded Leagues in Asia, has witnessed a few star players switching their base to Doha. Of course, as in the past, Sadd roped in the biggest of all names, Senegalese striker Mamadou Niang from Turkish club Fenerbahce.
Ze Roberto (Gharafa), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwiya), Mourad Meghni (Umm Salal) and Karim Ziani (Jaish) are some of the other big names to have joined the QSL this season. Rayyan are the only team not to have changed any foreign players, even though they have a new coach in Uruguayan Diego Aguirre.
Paulo Silas (Arabi) and Lotfi Benzarti (Kharaityat) are the other new coaches in the League. While Jaish signed Pericles Chamusca, who managed Arabi last season, Qatar SC elevated assistant coach Saeed Chiba after Sebastiao Lazaroni took over the national team.
Most of the Qatar internationals and Olympic team players belong to leading clubs Gharafa, Sadd, Rayyan and Arabi, and they will be frequently switching club and national team duties this season. Their absence in the pre-season affected the preparations of teams like Sadd, with their coach Jorge Fossati openly expressing his disappointment.
Moreover, Sadd will feature in the AFC Champions League quarterfinal, starting with an away leg on Wednesday against Iran s Sepahan.
Lekhwiya, Rayyan and Gharafa will represent the country in next year’s premier continental competition. They all will feel added pressure in the second phase. The world’s leading clubs have this worry, but Qatari outfits have only limited bench strength and it will in turn put pressure on the coaches.
The club managements in Qatar and the Gulf region in general are infamous for their impatience and, in no mood to accept the reality, make coaches scapegoats. That naturally makes most of them desperate for results and reluctant to give chance to the youngsters. The lowly clubs are feeling the real pinch.
