Doha: Nearly 4,000 spectators attend the official launch of the Workers Cup tournament at Al Sadd stadium on Friday, following the QSL match between Al Sadd and Sailiya. All 24 competing teams were paraded on the pitch to a rapturous reception.
In the inaugural match Outl Look thrashed Gulf Contracting 5-1 on the famous turf that is regularly graced by stars such as Raul and Ibrahim Khalfan. Though it was a one-sided affair, Gulf Contracting were passionately cheered on by the crowd that was mostly made up of their fellow employees.
Padam Tamang, a player from Gulf Contacting said after the match: “This is a very big opportunity for me to play in a big stadium, to exercise every day in training and have fun with my teammates. We lost our match this weekend but I had so much fun, this is a great event.”
Hani Ballan Deputy CEO of the Qatar Stars League said:
“It was fantastic to see so much passion and excitement from all of the 24 companies that were present on Friday. Not many people get the opportunity to play in a great stadium like Al Sadd so I’m sure it was a wonderful experience for all the players involved. The Workers Cup is a very important project for the QSL and is part of our vision to engage with and have a positive impact on all communities in Qatar.”
The Workers Cup is a joint initiative between the QSL and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. Nasser Al Khater, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, said: “We wish the players of each of the 24 teams of this 2nd edition of the Workers Cup a successful and above all enjoyable tournament. We would also like to thank the Qatar Stars League for their organization and support, and all the spectators in attendance for the unique atmosphere at Al Sadd Stadium for the opening ceremony, where the passion for football was clearly visible.
Football is a wonderful way of bringing people from across the world together in celebration of positive sporting values, as it does today and as it will do at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. I am delighted that we are supporting this important initiative for the second consecutive year, and look forward to more exciting matches and top quality goals this year.
It is also great to see the team from our first stadium construction site in Al Wakrah playing in the tournament this year, as we feel a real sense of excitement with the FIFA World Cup in Qatar taking on shape on the ground in 2014. We will continue to engage with the community and to encourage the growth of participation in football – both for players and spectators – across the country and the region for the next eight years.”
The Peninsula
