Tunisian fans’ everyday cheer wows visitors at Souq Waqif
AS the clock ticks for the most beautiful and grandest World Cup of all, fans of the Tunisian national team gather almost daily in the squares of Souq Waqif and perform dances and jigs that ama e the passers-by and media alike.
This great event has spurred many Tunisians to book tickets and Hayya cards and come to Qatar to stand by their national team in this tournament. Fans, who have come to Doha from all over the world, including Tunisia, as well as local residents, have expressed their enthusiasm for this edition of the World Cup the first on ArabIslamic soil.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Mahdi Abdulrahman, one of the leaders of a Tunisian national team fan group, expressed his happiness with this trip, through which he got to know Qatar and its ancient culture closely. He said that he will convey the rich experiences during this trip to his friends and family upon return to Tunis.
Speaking about their arrangements they have to encourage the Tunisian national team, he said We have easy and fast movement between the stadiums of the World Cup during the tournament. This is a unique feature of this edition of the World Cup. During previous editions of the World Cup, I was unable to attend more than 12 matches during the course of the tournament. This time in Qatar, I will be able to attend up to 20 matches, making Qatar2022 an excellent historic event.
Abdulrahman further said These loyal fans of the Tunisian national team travel all over the world to promote the team, and they gain a lot of experience that enables them to provide a clear picture of the ideal experience that football fans expect, so we pay special attention to them, especially in Qatar, which is closest to our heart .
He stressed that all the Tunisian fans will tell the world about their diverse experiences here, I was pleased to participate in this trip, which allowed me to achieve my goal of interacting with Tunisian fans and thanking the national team for its enthusiasm. It also allowed me get to know Qatar and its lifestyle, entertainment attractions and the many advanced facilities.
Talking about his preparations for the trip, Ahmed Ahmedof, another Tunisian team fan said that as soon as the Tunisian national team qualified for the World Cup 2022, he began preparing for the trip with his colleagues and added that this was his first in-person World Cup attendance. Fans of the Tunisian national team are ready to stand by their team in all circumstances and wherever it is, he asserted.
Ahmedof expressed his admiration for the advanced level of infrastructure in Qatar and preparations for the football World Cup, expressing belief that this edition of the tournament will be historic. ike his other compatriot, he expressed happiness at being able to visit Qatar and get acquainted with the country’s culture. He also noted the abundance of tourist and entertainment attractions, which promise fans an exceptional experience over the next few days.
He said that the Qatar 2022 will be one of the best editions of the World Cup, pointing out that the small distances between venues will allow fans to easily attend many matches.
I did not know anything about Qatar before this trip, and now that I am here, I am surprised at the development achieved by the state on more than one level. There is no doubt that Qatar will become the focus of the world’s attention during its hosting of the Cup .
Adila Sheikh, another fan of the Tunisian national team, said In addition to visiting a number of famous tourist sites, such as Souq Waqif and the Qatar National Museum, we have the opportunity as fans to express our joy and enthusiasm and show our culture to everyone, thank you Qatar.
Sheikh said she was excited to visit Qatar for the first time. With players and fans from all over the Arab world and beyond gathering within a limited geographical space for the international football festival, the excitement will only grow, she said adding I will assure the football fans in Tunisia that Qatar is a wonderful country, a safe country with a developed infrastructure. I look forward to the day when the World Cup kicks off to enjoy a vibrant festive atmosphere .
Sheikh explained that her passion for football is a way to confirm her belonging to her homeland Tunisia, her pride in the Customs and traditions of her country and pride in her identity.
I was overwhelmed with pride when the Carthage Eagles qualified to represent my country in this great sporting event taking place in Qatar, a small country with large achievements. I expect the Tunisian national team to show an honourable performance in the fourth group, which includes well-established teams. I am sure Tunisia will prove itself .
I believe that the Tunisian national team will have a good chance during this edition of the World Cup due to several reasons, including its being hosted by an Arab country and the great training during the past period that the team has been subjected to, said sports analyst and journalist Ahmed Shawabka.
Shawabka expects the Tunisian national team to smoothly pass the group stage with the French national team, where they will present their best tactics of team play, for which they have long been famous.