Ahmed Khellil Abbassi
The QNB Stars League (QSL), having achieved the distinction of the second best league in Asia last season, wants to go one step further and bag the top rank in two years time.
“So far the objective is to become the best league in Asia. QSL has the vision to become the best league in Asia on and off the field. Off the field in terms of organisation, we are already one of the best in the world, one of the best countries in the world known for world-class hosting of any sports event that can happen around the globe,” said Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development, QSL.
“Our ambition is to be the best in Asia by 2022. We are using research and innovation as well as learning. So we’re using adaptive change to ensure we become the best in Asia."
Last year Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awarded QSL league as the second best league in Asia.
Elaborating on the research and innovation aspect Abbassi said: “We are pioneers in football innovation. We are the first ones to use data and tracking devices to evaluate our players and to give the opportunity to the clubs, to the coaches to use this data to develop their players, but also to study their opponents."
"We are the second league in the world after Denmark to use completely implement live analysis, which means the coach receives live statistics on his iPad when the match is going on. So he can take some decisions based on research, based on studies that are happening on the spot.”
“And when it comes to research, we rely heavily on adapting to adaptive change. So, we study our league and we see the strengths and weaknesses, but also the opportunities and the shortcomings. We we compare our league with others. We see what others are doing and we see what we can adapt here. So for us, research and innovation is a major driver for the achievement of hard objective,” he added.
Abbassi broke down some figures and yards sticks by which the AFC conferred the second best league in Asia award to QSl. “Off the field, we are also talking about professionalism, where we have some of the most developed frameworks in the world that comes to players professionalism, club professionalism and financial sustainability."
"But we are also trying to take inspiration from other leagues and federations in the world when it comes to economic, social and environmental sustainability and development,” added Abbassi.
“On the pitch we are one of the best as we are attracting some big stars such as Mario Mandzukic, such as Gabi. And of course, Xavi (Al Sadd coach) and we have ex-coach off of Iceland (Heimir Hallgrímsson of Al Arabi) and ex-coach of Fulham (Slavisa Jokanovic of Al Gharafa). So we have some top players and coaches of the world in the QSL which makes it one of the Asia’s best.”
Abbassi said the level of Under-23 players is increasing over the last few seasons.
“The level of participation of an Under-23 player with our clubs in the QNB Stars League in the past three seasons reached 10%. It increased to 14.5% in the current season."
The QSL, he said is played at a more rapid pace which makes it one of the best.
“We are looking for a faster playing pace in the matches and this playing pace is calculated through the number of passes per minute. Previously, the playing pace in the league reached 16.3 passes per minute. It is now 16.5 passes and this number is one of the best in Asian leagues compared to European leagues.
