Mohammed Ahmed Al Qassabi. Pics by Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Qatar is home to a growing number of young scientists and innovators. One of them is Mohammed Ahmed Al Qassabi.
The 23-year-old has emerged as one of the country’s pioneers in sports innovation, and his journey began after his team lost a crucial football match owing to what he claimed was a missed offside call.
Driven by a heartbreaking defeat, Mohammed set out on a mission to redefine how offsides are detected in football. His solution? Creating a smart system OPAS (Offside & Performance Analysis System) designed not only to assist referees in spotting offside cases but also to analyze players’ performances and identify potential injuries.
“I believe I was born with a football in my hand. I have been playing football since I was young,” Mohammed told The Peninsula.
“I’ve been playing for Al Arabi club for more than 10 years. A few years back, we had an important match against Al Rayyan and usually the games between Al Arabi and Al Rayyan are like the derby in Doha. It’s always a tough game and we need to win the game because it’s the semi-finals. So, we were so excited for the game but we lost that game I believe because of a wrong offside call by the referee.”
Just what is offside rule? Simply put, a player is considered offside if closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
“That small mistake that cost us the tournament gave me an idea to develop a technology that will tackle the problem,” Mohammed said recounting his journey from aspiring club player to tech innovator.
“I came to Qatar Scientific Club, I presented my idea, and they were really supportive. They gave me all the tools that I needed and the engineers that were able to help me during my time to develop and enhance the product.” Utilizing nanotechnology, tiny chips are integrated in the ball and players’ uniforms, providing real-time interface showing player movements and sending instant notifications for offside violations.
Using Artificial Intelligence, OPAS also incorporates features to analyze players’ performances and predict potential injuries such as ACL injury. “We used AI to identify probable injury or predict them before happening, suggest ways to train the players in certain ways to avoid these kinds of injuries.”
It’s been a long road, but Mohammed’s dedication culminated in a tangible product that has been tested and successfully applied in friendly matches while waiting for FIFA approval for official matches.
“It’s great to see how a small idea that I thought of during the football match ended up as a real product. We’ve been trying OPAS and implementing it in friendly matches, and in order to implement it in official matches, I need some approval so I met up with the FIFA,” [the organization that controls international football and organizes the World Cup].
He added: “They have some innovation programs going on and one of the categories is related to offside. So, I applied and had some meetings with them and they really liked the idea and they were welcoming. The only thing they mentioned is that I need some approvals first from the local football association here.”
From patenting his creation to applying for FIFA program implementation and working on local validation, Mohammed’s dedication has borne fruit. Recently, he represented Qatar at the 2023 Seoul International Invention Fair, winning four major awards: SIIF Gold Medal, Special Prize from Korea Institute of Patent Information, Young Innovator Award from Citizen Innovation of Singapore, and the Gulf Cooperation Council Patent Office Award.
Notably, receiving a platinum medal for Scientific Excellence Award from the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stands as a pinnacle moment in his journey.
As Mohammed continues to make strides in innovation, he urges local authorities and institutions to hold competitions with financial incentives not just to encourage youth participation but also to aid innovators in advancing their projects and moving their inventions forward. He aims to inspire young people pursue careers as inventors.
“Qatar has provided us with all the resources that we need as young people to innovate, to be creative, to do such great things. We have all these kinds of youth clubs and organizations that provide us with all the support that we need to be good at what we do, whether it’s in technology, in sports, or in other fields. Take advantage of all these resources in a way to improve skills and to contribute to Qatar’s success in various fields.”
For Mohammed Ahmed Al Qassabi, beyond being a technological marvel, OPAS stands as a testament to the power of innovation, determination, and the great impact a small idea can have on Qatar and the football world.
