Al Gharafa players celebrate after scoring in a QNB Stars League match in this file photo.
Doha: Pre-event favourites Al Duhail and defending champions Al Gharafa will be looking for winning starts at the QSL Cup which kicks off tomorrow in Doha, featuring 12 teams.
Al Duhail, who started the new season well after sealing the domestic treble, will begin the event as one of the leading contenders for the title. ‘The Red Knights’ will begin their campaign against Al Kharaitiyat at Abdulla Bin Khalifa Stadium in one of the two opening matches on first day.
The 2017 champions Al Gharafa will play their first match of the tournament against Qatar SC at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. The other match on the inaugural day will be played between Umm Salal and Al Arabi.
The Group A matches of Round 1 will be followed by Group B games on Sunday, with Doha giants Al Sadd meeting Al Shahania at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. Later in the evening, the venue will also play host to another Group B match between Al Sailya and Al Khor. Al Rayyan will open their campaign against Al Ahli at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.
The inaugural edition of the QSL Cup was held in the 2009-10 season. It was revived in 2017-18 after a gap of three seasons.
The competition serves its purpose as young players get as much playing time as possible, thereby providing their clubs and the Qatar national team with a wider player pool to choose from, especially since the country is gearing up to compete in the Asian Cup in the UAE in January, 2019.
Fixtures are scheduled during international breaks when the QNB Stars League is stopped. The tournament is also a great platform for clubs to unearth new talents and they give opportunities to as many Under-23 players as possible.
The draw for the 2018-19 season QSL Cup was made on August 29. The clubs were ranked according to their order in last season’s QNB Stars League standings, with promoted Al Shahania replacing relegated Al Markhiya as the last team.
The change in format will see the six-team group stage being followed by knockout quarter-finals instead of four teams directly qualifying for the semifinals like the last season.
The first-four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
While some clubs are preparing with their full squad, others are deprived of it as their overseas professional players are on international duty. Some of the Qatari players are also away to do duty for the Qatar national team for its forthcoming friendlies against China (today) and Palestine (September 11).
QSL Cup
Tomorrow’s fixtures
Round 1 (Group A)
6:10pm: Al Duhail vs Al Kharaitiyat at Abdulla Bin Khalifa Stadium
6:10pm: Umm Salal vs Al Arabi at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium
8:20pm: Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium
Round 1 (Group B) Sunday
6:10pm: Al Sadd vs Al Shahania at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium
6:16pm: Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium
8:20pm: Al Sailiya vs Al Khor at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium
