The highly-anticipated QNB Stars League (QSL) 2019-2020 season began yesterday, with national and international stars representing 12 elite clubs of Qatar setting sights on the glory.
QSL is the highest professional league in Qatari football and brings intriguing matches as top-notch footballers continue to battle for the Falcon Shield – the winners’ trophy.
Al Sadd are the most successful side of the competition, claiming the prestigious title 14 times while Qatar SC and Al Rayyan have both notched the coveted trophy eight times apiece.
Al Sadd are also the defending champions this season, and face stiff competition from their opponents particularly Al Duhail, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa in their title defence.
Every season, the QSL offers more excitement and this year will also not be different as all the teams have come up with solid preparations, spending the off season in training camps mostly in Europe.
Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez, who gave up Al Sadd captain’s arms band to start his coaching career with the team, will be in focus in his first QSL challenge as a manager.
Xavi has already guided the Wolves to the quarter-finals of AFC Champions League and just last week clinched his first trophy as a coach when his side defeated Al Duhail in the Sheikh Jassim Cup.
The Spanish influence on this year’s QSL will be profound as apart from Xavi, five more coaches from the Iberian country are guiding the fortunes of the QSL clubs in the 12-team double leg competition.
Besides, Xavi the other Spaniards hired by their respective Qatari clubs are Marquez Lopez of Al Wakrah, Alos Ferrer of Qatar SC, Jose Murcia of Al Shahaniya, Ruben de la Barrera of Al Ahli and Raul Caneda of Umm Salal.
Among the new foreign players who will be seen in action in the QSL this season is Mexican international Hector Moreno, who joined Al Gharafa last month. The 31-year-old moved to Qatar from Spanish club Real Sociedad.
Fans have been offered a unique experience this season as QSL’s mobile application for smartphones, designed by Qatari company Al Konat, has been launched and will be a new media platform for Qatar football fans. It allows users functions such as news of tournaments organised by QSL, news and follow-up of clubs, special pages about clubs to help the fans keep in touch with everything related to their favourite club and purchase of e-tickets and Season Cards.
QSL, which is expected to continue till April next year, will certainly add spice to the busy football season, which will also see Qatar hosting the 24th Gulf Cup from November 27 to December 9, and FIFA Club World Cup from December 11 to 22.
