Doha: The Qatar Football Association has wrapped up its annual AFC Grassroots Football Festival at the indoor stadium of Aspire Academy. Al Ahli emerged as the overall winner for the current season, surpassing participating clubs from the 2013, 2014, and 2015 youth categories. The "Developing Club Award" was presented to Al Markhiya, in recognition of their impressive performance throughout the season.
According to Qatar News Agency, the festival featured competitive matches that showcased skills from young, talented players. In addition, a number of promising referees were entrusted with officiating the matches, which took place in ideal conditions. The event was designed to be both entertaining and educational, fostering technical competition among the young athletes, with a large turnout of parents, coaches, and other stakeholders.
Director of Football Development at QFA, Fahd Thani Al Zraa, commended the successful Grassroots Football Day, which highlighted promising players capable of elevating Qatari football in the years to come-the ultimate objective. He stated: "Our focus is on building a strong foundation for Qatari football by expanding participation, enhancing player development across all levels, and providing comprehensive support-health, social, and behavioral-to foster long-term engagement with the sport."
He then added, "As the festival concludes, we extend our gratitude to everyone involved-the QFA's Football Development Department, clubs, technical staff, and administrators-particularly as we face numerous challenges ahead. Chief among them is our nation's ambition to compete at continental and international levels, motivating us to uphold our responsibility in advancing Qatari football and achieving its future aspirations."
Al Zraa noted that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognizes the QFA's commitment to youth development, with Qatar having earned all AFC accolades in this field. This acknowledgment serves as both motivation and a reminder of our responsibility to intensify efforts for the continued growth of football in Qatar.