Brand new Education City Stadium, a venue that will host the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup matches, has been listed to stage the first Qatar Stars League (QSL) match after football activity was stalled in the country to prevent the spread coronavirus pandemic in the middle of March.
According to the fixtures list announced by QSL yesterday, Qatar SC will play their ‘home’ match against Al Rayyan on July 24 at Education City Stadium with kick-off set for 4:45pm. The venue has cooling technology that will allow the match to be conducted in nearperfect playing conditions.
Last week Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competition and Football Development at QSL said: “Yes, air-conditioned stadiums will be used after co-ordination and co-operation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.”
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) last week announced that building works inside the Education City Stadium have ended whereas installation of stadium envelope, seats, arch finishes and roof structure has also been completed.
The mechanical, engineering and plumbing works are also complete at the imposing football stadium. Also on July 24, former champions and currently placed fourth on the points table, Al Gharafa will take on Al Arabi at Al Janoub Stadium - another 2022 FIFA World Cup venue that was inaugurated with fanfare for the Amir Cup final in May 2019.
Al Janoub Stadium hosted matches during the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup held in November-December last year. In the day’s last match, a round 18 clash between hosts Al Sadd and Al Khor will be played at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, another venue with state-of-the-art cooling technology. On July 25, Al Duhail will take on Umm Salal (4:45pm) while Al Shahaniya will battle Al Ahli at Al Janoub Stadium and in the day’s final fixture, Al Wakrah will play Al Sailiyah at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (7:00pm).
The battle for points will resume next month with leaders Al Duhail (42 points after 17 rounds), Al Rayyan (38), Al Sadd (32) and Al Gharafa (28) holding on to the top four slots in the 12-team league. It may be noted that the kick-off timings and venues of matches in the last two weeks (21 and 22) will be finalised later based on the results and standings of teams in the table, as the QSL is keen to provide all clubs with equal opportunities.
Meanwhile the annual leave for players - that started on May 17 - officially ended yesterday. Coronavirus (COVID-19) tests will be conducted for all technical as well as administrative staff and players today and tomorrow, according to a QSL circular issued last month. The training sessions will start on Wednesday, 10th June, 2020, the statement added.
