Euphoria As Fans and Families of Players Cheer Al Annabi in Qatar
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Sports Wednesday, January 30, 2019 17 Euphoria as fans and families of players cheer Al Annabi in Qatar AYENI OLUSEGUN famous ‘Yalla Qatar!!!’ rang Every Al Annabi attacking DOHA out from the Souq Waqif to play brought different emo- Katara Cultural Village to As- tions from the crowd just as THE image of Boualem pire Park, Hotel Park and the the Emiratis runs in Qatar’s Khoukhi kissing the Qatari Pearl-Qatar. defence sent anxious groans badge on his shirt is probably However, for those close from fans with their eyes glued We have won the ‘final’ and the most iconic image of the to the players like friends and to the screen. now everyone can be more 2019 AFC Asian Cup for Al An- family, the win over UAE is Qatar’s first shot at goal proud to be a Qatari. This was nabi so far. probably bigger than the tro- came from Salem al Hajris Despite a blatant disregard boots, a decent effort which more than the football as for sportsmanship by the host was held by Khalid Essa in everyone knows, we beat nation especially when the goal for the UAE but for the Lebanon, Korea, Saudi Arabia Qatari national anthem was home fans, a different out- being sung, Felix Sanchez and come would have been ecstasy. – all power houses but the his players put on their best The much awaited goal players have honoured us. performance to claim a 4-0 Yalla Qatar! came from a swift counter at- victory against the UAE. tack. Qatar won possession Mohammed Abdalla, Goals from Boualem Fans thronged various venues back in their half and a quick cousin of Qatar midfielder Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Hassan to show their support. pass found Khoukhi down the Abdulaziz Hatem al Haydos and Ismaeel Ham- Everyone who calls Qatar right. The Al Sadd man who adi secured Qatar’s first Asian home, locals and expatriates has been instrumental for Al Cup final berth. alike sang, celebrated with Annabi caught Essa napping Emirati fans booed Qatari chants of “We Love Qatar!” as his shot drifted into the players from all corners of the and the famous ‘Yalla net, sending the home crowd stadium, threw water bottles Qatar!!!’ rang out from the across the nation into frenzy. on the pitch and hurled shoes Qatar! Qatar!! Qatar!!! but Al Annabi maintained a Souq Waqif to Katara Cultural Screams erupted again as Al- cool head in hostile territory Village to Aspire Park, Hotel moez Ali equalled Iran’s Ali and Sanchez displayed that on Park and the Pearl-Qatar. Daei’s 1996 Asian Cup record the touchline. The players saw of 8 goals in a single tourna- a calm coach and it showed in ment. their performance for 90 min- phy itself. A ship can only sail as far utes. The cousin of midfielder as the captain directs and As Al Annabi celebrated Abdulaziz Hatem, Moham- Haydos has been every bit a victory and a record sixth med Abdalla who scored the captain for Qatar. A man who clean sheet at a single Asian winner against South Korea in bleeds the Maroon sealed the Cup, shoes were thrown the quarter-finals, was simply game with a befitting finish at them and plastic bottles delighted. “This is the biggest with one of the finest goals rained down from angry local football moment we have wit- of the tournament. His finish fans — as they had for every nessed,” he exclaimed. caused euphoric scenes, prob- Qatar goal. Young midfielder Hassan Alaen Alazead and ably a taste of more to come in Salem al Hajri was hit on the Mohammed Abdalla, said, 2022. head after the third goal. “We have won the ‘final’ and Hamadi’s late strike struck Meanwhile, here in Qatar, now everyone can be more another blow to an already fans thronged various venues proud to be a Qatari. This was deflated UAE team but Qatar to show their support. Eve- more than the football as eve- matches on with four-time ryone who calls Qatar home, ryone knows, we beat Leba- winners Japan waiting in the locals and expatriates alike, non, Korea, Saudi Arabia – all final.T he 2019 Asian Cup tro- sang, celebrated with chants power houses but the players phy however, may have found of “We Love Qatar!” and the have honoured us.” a new home at Al Bidda Tower. Mourinho, Dignity and depression abound Zidane, Klinsmann mentioned as Qatar cruise Gulf Derby around Qatar eased into WORLD VIEW Iran job the Asian Cup DPA final as hosts TEHRAN UAE discovered all JOSE Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane and Juergen Klins- the support in the mann were on Tuesday named as possible candi- world cannot dates for the Iran national make up for a team coaching job, the Isna news agency said, citing the big difference communications depart- ment of the nation’s sports in ability ministry. The three famous coach- DPA es were named the day af- ABU DHABI ter Iran lost the Asian Cup semi-final 3-0 against Japan “Let’s welcome the Qatar in the United Arab Emirates. team!” boomed the announc- However, Isna also said er at the Mohammed Bin the debate was premature Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi because neither current on Tuesday. coach Carlos Queiroz nor “Booooooooooooo!” replied the sports ministry have said the crowd. Let’s not. they will part ways. In an Asian Cup played out Queiroz suggested after largely in front of half-empty, Monday’s match “the end is sterile stadiums, the hosting near.” United Arab Emirates meeting Iran’s football federation Qatar in the semi-finals was a reportedly wants him to stay reminder of exactly what these on but is said to be not able events are supposed to be like. to pay him any more because Nearly 40,000 squeezed into of the financial crisis in the Al Jazira’s ground, a stadium country in the wake of new which - in contrast to many oth- United States sanctions. ers in the tournament - was truly However, it is also un- built for football. The lower-tier clear how the federation stands are incredible close to the would pay the former Chel- pitch and the upper level banks sea, Real Madrid, Inter Mi- steeply so even though high up lan and Manchester City are not too far away. manager Mourinho, ex-Real And even when the Qatar helmsman Zidane, or the players jogged onto the pitch former Germany and US some 50 minutes before kick- coach Klinsmann. off they were given a hostile reception. The announcer opti- mistically suggested they would throw some mini-footballs to the crowd as souvenirs but per- haps they had forgotten to pick them up on the way out tunnel. While Qatar, World Cup from Doha, instead having to go host nation it’s quite normal the change and another soon after pions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Next up for Qatar is Japan hosts in 2022, had dazzled in a much longer route. people come to support their and the crowd were soon be- South Korea have all been dis- in Friday’s final in what will the tournament and the UAE If this bothered Qatar coach team.” hind their charges again – they missed. be their toughest test to date. gradually picked up momen- Felix Sanchez before, he didn’t Two goals down by half- recognised it was not the will to “Qatar is very nice in terms A first Asian title, before they tum, no one in the stands was let it show and a 4-0 humilia- time, their enthusiasm was win that was missing but ability. of sport, we have the Aspire guest at the Copa America in a pretending football was the only tion of the hosts allowed him to somewhat muted. As it was “I thank the players, they Academy which was one of the few months as another World thing being contested over the leave with the grace of a winner. not an official UAE home game had the team spirit all along keys in developing the team,” Cup tune-up, would be remark- 90 minutes. While his players had been but rather a ‘neutral’ venue, the the game and all the players did said Sanchez. able achievement. The UAE prevented Qatari showered by shoes and bottles DJ could have been advised to their best,” Zaccheroni admit- “The Aspire Academy, the For the UAE, they gave fans coming to the tournament in celebrating their many goals alter his script. ted. football association, the clubs, everything but fell short. Is- while media and officials - usu- he assessed: “in general it was “I absolutely love the energy Qatar, looked at with doubts all work together with the same mail Ahmed being cheered ally exempt from harassment at fair play, only a few people ... tonight,” he commented as wor- in football terms when awarded target. The result in this tour- wildly for elbowing Salem sporting events – reported diffi- behaved in a not proper way.” ried Emiratis nervously consid- the World Cup, have built and nament gives us the proof with Al Hajri to receive a red card culties getting into the country. Sanchez added his players ered the odds of a comeback. built. They have reached the hard work and good orgniazai- summed up their night – plenty Even the Qatar squad were “were aware there’d be a lot of UAE coach Alberto Zac- final without conceding a goal ton we can achieve the right re- of fight directed in the wrong Iran coach Carlos Queiroz quit unable to get a short direct flight pressure from the fans, as the cheroni made a half-time while scoring 16 - former cham- sults.” place.