Ramadan football… Ole Ole Ole!
This adventure was a totally unexpected one.
The other day, I was returning after attending iftaar at a favourite Pakistani family friend’s home. He and his two young sons were driving me back as my husband could not make it to the function.
On the way back, we saw some brilliant lights coming out of a hole in the ground, inside a walled off area. There was a small crack in the wall, where a few bricks had fallen loose, through which I could see quick glimpses of yellow and white. And then there was the roar of the excited crowd.
The female, older version of Sherlock Holmes that I am, I immediately grew curious. I asked my friend about it and he just smiled. I had a feeling he knew what was going on. It turned out he did. It was a Ramadan Football Tournament, organised by the Pakistani and Iranian Muslims of the area.
The competition had eight teams, mostly made up of common people you and I would meet on the road. There were no George Bests or David Beckhams among them, but they made up for the absence of star power with some amazing football tricks. I was thunderstruck. This was my first experience of a Ramadan football tournament not organised by the Qatar Football Association.
My Pakistani friend knew some of the spectators and he started conversing with them in rapid-fire Urdu. I could see people looking at me and pointing to where I stood. One thing I’ve learned is that Qatari people respect a person with a head full of white hair. I qualified.
Soon one, two and then a whole lot of people came near. A few children touched my hands, as if they didn’t believe that a white-haired, not-so-frail British lady could stand among a field full of men. They treated me like a queen and were almost reverential while addressing me. They made available a makeshift sofa and I held the pride of position for the rest of the match.
It was one of those moments when in a sudden blaze of colour and light, I understood how many different cultures of people Doha is made up of. At the end of the game, the teams insisted I took pictures with them. They’ve invited me for the final as well. Am not sure about making it, but I was touched by the gesture.
Needless to say, this was one of my best Ramadan moments in 15 years. Life always has a way of teaching you little things in life. This time, it was football, the great communicator.
Ramadan football, here we go, ole ole ole.
P.S: Last but not least, excuse me for the poor picture quality. I did not have my camera on me and this was all done with my mobile phone.
Hi There !!
Very nice Post and Photo are good.
Thanks & Regards
Annete Duffel
http://cv.careersnigeria.com/
Great post!!
Where is this place? Someone said people call it Fifa street? Where is it?
awesome post...
bless...
i wish u were at QAWS .. it would get all the attention with you covering it ...
spreading the word bout those poor animals plight is whats important.....
hope the authorities can donate some facility.
I managed and played in one of these tournaments... small scale compared to what I mentioned in my last post and we won the cup... :-D
They even had a website put up with tournament rules, fixtures, results etc...
Maybe next year I'll get photographs with match by match coverage...
there are other tournaments among local expats worth following in the Indian community (Keralites)... it gets very passionate with huge crowd pull... very colorful with offical sponsors for teams, parades, jerseys, packed stands, controversies, the occasional crowd problems and rough tackles... sadly lot more injury than what you would see in a professional football tournament... an average of one ambulance per match when it reaches the knock out phases... that's how passionate it gets...
gud job ole ole ole
Devil_Davil, thank you for the comment. I don't come up with interesting post. I just happen to be at the right place (or the right car) at the right time. LOL. But thanks for the compliment.
I Am Not A Troll, Well, you got what you wanted. I did not take my camera. But I got what i wanted too, i had carried my cell phone, LOL. Coming to the serious point, thank you for your comment. Such comments make me want to write more. :)
Formatted Sould, would you tell that to my grandchildren as well? Sometimes, when I say they cannot stay up after 10 watching TV, they threaten me with deportation to Britain. I'm still here only because they cannot find a replacement to tell them their bed time stories. I love them!
Stone cold, I swear I did see football being played and there was not a blade of grass in sight anywhere.
Greeker, I have heard about your writings as well. Why are you not writing anymore? But your pictures are nice. Keep at it too.
Saddavi, thank you for the great information. FIFA street sounds a cool name. And you are right, this area is indeed Mesaimeer, near Bu Hamour.
great post.
btw This is called Fifa street,
everyone loves that, full of amazing tricks,
And if this place is Mesaimeer (Bu Hamour) thn u shud knw that there are many professional Footballers here who started playing in this compound, some play for Qatar National Team as well.
Thanks for posting.
Cheers
There are Indoor Foot ball as well.
Then you haven't been adventurous like Wanderer and GONE AROUND Doha. Not all football is played on a grass court, mate. These pictures prove it, doesn't it?
Nice post Wanderer. Keep them coming. I look forward to reading more from you.
Football are normally played in grass tuft, not this one.
Wanderer...as usual awesome story....
We are lucky to have you on QL for such wonderful posts..:)
YaaY !! I was waiting for a day when YOU dont carry your camera while outing! Ole Ole Ole !!! lol..
Coming to the serious note,
Nicely explained.. as always.. and the pictures are not bad.. :)
u always come up with interesting posts!!! good job...and the pics are not bad either...