Five young football fans from Indonesia pose for a picture after Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and Ooredoo announced a new initiative at a press conference in Doha yesterday. Young football fans from Qatar, Palestine, Indonesia, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and Maldives were present at the press conference.
DOHA: Young football fans spoke of their delight in meeting football megastar Lionel Messi in Qatar yesterday.
Lucky young football fans from Qatar, Palestine, Indonesia, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and the Maldives had the opportunity to take part in a football session with the four-time World Football Player of the Year at Aspire Academy yesterday, as part of a new initiative by Ooredoo and the Leo Messi Foundation, which was formed in 2007.
The young delegation, who were invited to the event by Ooredoo, also posed with the 25-year-old Argentine striker and Ooredoo Group Chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani to promote the initiative in supporting mobile health clinics around the world and providing medical aid for children in the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia.
Maged Said Al Shelba, from Oman, who was present during the press conference at Aspire Dome said he could not sleep after admitting to being excited in seeing the Argentine striker.
The Barcelona fan said: “It was very nice and I was very happy to see him. I could not sleep all night because I was so excited.”
Another young fan, Amir Mahira said: “I was a bit star-struck to be honest of seeing him (Messi).”
Mahira, who is a young actor, and travelled from Indonesia with four friends who are all interested in football added: “It was just really good to see him and it was an amazing opportunity.”
Ammar Anatawli from Palestine, said he was very humbled to see the Argentine.
The young football fan said: “It was very exciting and I was very humbled to see him. He is my hero.”
According to a report on the Ooredoo website, a young girl from Palestine, who won an international writing contest, a boy from Baghdad, Iraq, who overcame the loss of a leg to persue his dreams and sporting talents from North Africa, formed the delegation.
The children also visited other famous tourist destinations in Qatar, including the Musueum of Islamic of Art and the Katara Cultural District.
In February, Messi, who joined the Catalan club aged 13, and has gone on to make over 240 appearences since making his first-team debut at 17, was announced as the global ambassador for Ooredoo.
In addition to his role, the Argentine is the global goodwill ambassador for Unicef.
Messi arrived in Qatar early yesterday morning, just hours after he saw Barcelona win 2-1 against Valladolid on Sunday at the Nou Camp Stadium.
THE PENINSULA
