Doha: Thousands of jubilant citizens and expatriates welcomed Qatar National Football Team, the champion of 2019 AFC Asian Cup, by chanting slogans of victory and carrying Qatari flags at main podium of celebration on the Doha Corniche yesterday.
The players riding in double-decker bus with open rooftop reached the podium by 9pm where rose petals and confetti were showered on them and fireworks were displayed from the sea to celebrate the historic win. The players interacted very closely with gathering which lasted for half-an-hour. Security personal allowed the fans to get closer with the bus.
The team sang Qatar national anthem with fans and enchanted slogans honouring H H the Amir, H H the Father Amir, coach of Qatari team and captain.
The players waved the Asian Cup and distributed some T-shirts among fans. The pleasant weather doubled the joy of the celebrations. Huge number of citizens and expatriates from many nationalities including Arab, Asian, African waited for hours along both sides of the road of Doha Corniche to take a glimpse of the players. Large number of women and children also came to welcome the team.
A number of music bands from expatriate community also joined the celebration. “We over a dozen members of the music band of Qatar Indian Muslim Cultural Center (QIMCC) have come here to celebrate the historic victory of Qatar in 2019 Asian Cup,” Mohamad Rafiq, an Indian national told The Peninsula.
He said that the victory is for all people who was residing in Qatar including citizens and expatriates. Hamud Naji Mohamad Al Hajazi, a Qatari citizen distributed bottled water and Qatar national flags among crowds.
“We distributed thousands of bottled water and flags free of cost among the people. We started distribution by 3pm,” said Al Hajazi. He said that the move came in respect to the victory of Qatar national football team in Asian Cup. “It is a historic victory; we are proud of it,” said Al Hajazi.
People in groups were spotted singing patriotic songs and chanting slogans in support of Qatar national football team. A group of Sudanese expatriate community was chanting slogan ‘rise your heads you are Arab’.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment representative by the Public Parks Department had decorated Al Beda Park and wrote ‘congratulation Qatar national football team for victory’ with floral arrangement. Large number of people were spotted taking pictures with decorations.
