Tunisian community football team during the under-16 match at Aspire Park. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
An under-16 team from Tunisian expatriate community played a football match held under Qatar 2018-19 Community Football League (QCFL) at a playground of Aspire Park on November 9 (Friday).
“The adult team of the community contested against Lebanese counterpart in Golf Club located behind Shafallah Center yesterday,” Abdelhamid Hichri, Chairman of the Committee of Culture and Sports at the Council of Tunisian Community in Qatar told The Peninsula.
The QCFL is a community football league founded in 2016 by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. In its first year, the league had 24 teams playing across two divisions, this number has risen 54 teams playing across four adult divisions and two youth divisions.
“Sports is very important for all people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Tunisians are very fond of football match. We - the Committee of Culture and Sports - are keen to provide opportunity to adults and youngsters of our community interested in football match to show their talents,” said Hichri.
He said that under-16 team is first time participating but the adult team participated last year in which it secured fourth place among the community teams. “This year we are fully prepared and expecting the first position,” said Hichri.
He said that the Committee of Culture and Sports has planned to develop a girls’ football team for Tunisian expatriate community in Qatar soon.
Abdelhamid Hichri.
“Teams and players of Tunisian expatriate community actively participated in various matches which are organised on different occasions including Qatar National Day, Tunisia National Day and Qatar Sport Day and those friendly matches with other expatriate communities held every off and on,” said Hichri.
He said that Tunisian expatriate community participated in race contest held at Al Ahli Club last year on the eve of Qatar National Day and won a prize.
Speaking about the cultural activities of Tunisian expatriate community, Hichri said: “The Committee of Culture and Sports in collaboration with Katara Cultural Village will organise musical program in January, 2019.” He said that professional musicians from Tunisian expatriate community including some youngsters will show their talents at the program.
“Last year, we invited famous musicians from Tunisia who participated in the cultural activities held on Qatar National Day but this year we will give chance to some talented Tunisian musicians residing in Qatar,” said Hichri.
Regarding the cultural center, he said that there are two groups of artists/artistes from Tunisian expatriate community apart from Tunisian School which is running a musical club, however a cultural center yet to be established.
The Committee, he said, has also planned to hold a cultural festival ‘Tunisian Week’ next month to showcase Tunisian cuisine, beautiful traditional dresses and artworks. “We are planning to invite a group of artistes from Tunisia to perform in a play expected to be held in Doha next month,” said Hichri adding that first Tunisian play which was held in Abdulaziz Nasser Theatre, Souq Waqif was very successful.
He said that the Council of Tunisian Community in Qatar comprised of 11 permanent members including president, vice president, spokesman. “The committees working under the Council included Social Affairs, School, Cultural & Sports and Tourism,” said Hichri.
Speaking about the activities of Tourism Committee, Hichri said: “The Committee organised trips from Qatar to Tunisian to promote tourism sector of Tunisia. Foreign trips are also being organised for Tunisian expatriates interested in visiting other countries like Indian and Sri Lanka.”
