Barcelona sign Senegal's World Cup star Wague

Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign former Aspire Football Dreams-player and Senegal intternational Moussa Wague, according to the official site of the Spanish club.

The clubs and the 19-year-old right-back have agreed today and the corresponding formalities will be settled in the coming days.

However, the fee hasn’t been revealed and he is yet to sign the contract, but that will be done in the next few days. He has completed his medical, on Friday morning and will train with his team for the first time at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Saturday.

The announcement came through the Barcelona B Twitter account, so he will be part of that team at the start, but he could graduate into the senior squad.

Wague is relatively inexperienced at the senior level because he only played 23 league and cup matches for Eupen as well as 17 Europa League qualifying games. Although, he did impress with Senegal at the World Cup.

 Before moving to Belgium club, Wague was trained at the Aspire Academy Senegal.

 Wague made his international breakthrough at the 2018 World Cup with the Senegalese national team. At the World Cup tournament, he played two matches in his country’s starting team and played in the third group match for 15 minutes. With his goal against Japan, Moussa Wague became Africa’s youngest scorer of all time, at just 19 years, 8 months and 20 days old.

KAS Eupen is a Belgian professional football club that currently plays in the ‘Jupiler Pro League’ (1st Division) and serves an important role in the philosophy of Qatar’s Aspire Academy: The club, in which the football related activities of the club were taken over by AZF in 2012 while still playing in the 2nd Division, functions as a stepping stone for Aspire's local Qatari players as well as 'Aspire Football Dreams' scholarship players to guarantee a smooth and successful transition from youth to professional football.

When Aspire Zone Foundation became the new owner of KAS Eupen in June 2012, the initial response from the city on the German-Belgian border, population 18,000, was reserved. But the foreign investor from distant Qatar was soon recognized as a highly professional partner – one who laid solid foundations for future success, modernised the structure and organisation of the club, quickly earned trust by honouring current contracts and bolstered the team by recruiting a raft of new players who had previously been part of the football programme of Aspire Academy in Doha or 'Aspire Football Dreams' in Senegal.

Qatar football league kicks from Saturday

Al Sailiya vs Umm Salal

The clash between Al Sailiya and Umm Salal will evoke keen interest among the fans.

Al Sailiya were in the fourth place for most part of last season, but were pushed behind by Umm Salal in the fight for the fifth spot. In fact, The Orange Fortress were very much in the race for the fourth position, which they lost to Al Gharafa.

Al Sailiya retained the services of Algerian Nadir Belhadj and signed Moroccan striker Rachid Tiberkanine from Al Kharaitiyat.

Umm Salal have kept Ivorian Yannick Sagbo, Syrian Mahmoud Mawas and Moroccan Adel Rhaili on their roster while adding Nigerian striker Christian Osaguona.

Al Sailiya coach

Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Umm Salal.

“We have concluded our preparations in a better way ahead of the start of new season even though the preparatory period was short. I hope we will have a better campaign this time than we had last season, where we could have finished in a better position than sixth.

“We have to be very strong and must show more character in order to achieve more and more positive results. We must also play with strong determination in all matches to collect points. Our target is again the top four.

“We have two good strikers in Rachid Tiberkanine (who played for Al Kharaitiyat last season) and Abdelqadir ilyas, who last played for Al Markhiya. Rachid is an opportunistic striker who can win matches on his own. Abdelqadir has also proved his mettle. We are counting on them to deliver the goods mainly.

“We have many better solutions this season. We are facing a tough start, against Umm Salal who are strong in all departments of the game. They have retained most of their players. We will analyse our game after the first four matches when we will have a break,” said Trabelsi.

Umm Salal coach Laurent Banide 

Umm Salal coach Laurent Banide spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Sailiya.

“All games are difficult, but things are in our hands to a great extent, especially at the start of the season. We have to embark on our campaign on a confident note.

“We must perform well. We are trying to strike the right balance between attack and defence. We must create enough scoring opportunities and capitalise on them.

“We will see if the team is able to provide a good level. We had a good camp in the pre-season and we seek to implement the strategies on the field. 

“The season is sure to be tough and we have to be prepared for the gruelling games.

“We missed out on the fourth position to Al Gharafa very narrowly last season. We will try to be in the top four this time. We have the players to deliver the goods. Most of them are staying from last year,” said Banide.

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Al Arabi vs Al Khor

Al Arabi overcame first-phase slump and finished a creditable seventh last season, thanks to Croatian coach Luka Bonacic’s damage-control exercises.

The Dream Team have recruited three new professionals — Iraqi Ahmed Ibrahim, Brazilian Mailson de Farias and Colombian Franco.

Al Khor are under a new coach — Tunisian Adel Sellimi who replaced compatriot Nassif Al Bayawi when the latter left for Al Kharaitiyat. They mainly have Iraqis Ahmed Yasin and Rebin Sulaka, as well as Brazil’s Diego Oksta and Gabon’s Ulysse Nadong to deliver the goods.

Al Arabi coach

Al Arabi coach Luka Bonacic spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Khor.

“New season brings something new. We made many changes last season, with seven or eight players being replaced. We have made some changes this time as well. But then, many changes have been made at Al Arabi over the past few seasons. Players leaving the club is not under my control. It is up to the team management.

“Some of our overseas professional players arrived only two weeks ago. That is not ample time for them to adapt to the squad. I hope they will settle into their stride sooner rather than later.

“As a coach, I implement my plans slowly. I am happy that I could change the fortunes of Al Arabi ever since I took over the team last season. The seventh-place finish was very satisfying.

“Had we been starting by the middle of September, I could have found more solutions. We go into our first match on Saturday and we had to act fast.

“The first three or four games is not about quality of the team. It’s more about players adapting to the situation,” said Bonacic.

Al Khor coach speaks

Al Khor coach Adel Sellimi spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Arabi.

“We are ready to take on Al Arabi. We had successful preparations during the pre-season camp in the Netherlands, where the new players combined well with team-mates.

“Our professional player quota is now complete. We have bolstered the squad by replacing Brazilian midfielder Madson with Iraqi medio Ahmed Yasin. Another Iraqi player Rebin Sulaka, Brazil’s Diego Costa and Gabon’s Ulysse Nadong are also on our roster.

“We are not worried about playing in the hot weather as the matches will be played in air-conditioned venues,” said Sellimi.

Al Khor captain Nayef Al Breiki said, “All our players are determined to provide a good display. Most of the clubs have strengthened their ranks, so we have to be focused on achieving victories.”

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Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC

Al Gharafa, who finished fourth last season, would look for a good performance this season as well. And for that, they need to make a winning start to their campaign as they take on Qatar SC, who ended up 10th last time.

Al Gharafa are under new coach Christian Gourcuff and have the likes of Dutch star Wesley Sneijder, Iranian Mehdi Taremi and Slovenian Vladimir Weiss in their ranks.

Qatar SC, coached by Abdullah Mubarak, have new recruits Hussein Ali, Alaeddin Al Dali and Brazilian Dodo in the company of Osama Omari as overseas players.

The encounter between Al Gharafa and Qatar SC on Saturday, 4th August, will herald the start of 2018-19 QNB Stars League season. The kick-off is at 17:35 at the Al Sadd Stadium.

The match assumes great importance to both teams as it is crucial for them to make a winning start to the new campaign.

Both Al Gharafa and Qatar SC are sure to go all out and seek full points.

Al Gharafa, who just about managed to finish fourth last season and thereby qualified for the elite Qatar Cup, have Frenchman Christian Gourcuff at the helm. He replaced Turk Bulent Uygun, who joined them midway through last season and helped The Cheetahs go up from the seventh position where the team stood at the end of first phase.

Al Gharafa have the likes of Dutch attacking midfielder and FIFA World Cup runner-up Wesley Sneijder, Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi and Slovakian midfielder Vladimir Weiss, who missed most of last season with an injury.

Qatar SC, who languished at the bottom half early last season, did quite well ever since Qatari coach Abdulla Mubarak replaced Argentinian Gabriel Calderon. The Kings, who once stared at relegation, eventually ended up 10th.

Abdulla is known to bring the best out of his players and that helped the side a lot in last season’s QNB Stars League.

Qatar SC made an overhaul of their squad by replacing three foreign players. They roped in Hussein Ali, Alaeddin Al Dali and Brazilian Dodo while retaining Syrian Osama Omari.

Al Rayyan will definitely look to begin their campaign in the 2018-19 QNB Stars League season on a winning note when they take on Al Ahli on Sunday, 5th August. The kick-off is at 19:45 at the Al Sadd Stadium.

Al Rayyan are on a high after winning the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup by beating Al Duhail on Wednesday, 1st August.

The Lions were even in the title race initially last season, but faded out in the face of marauding run by eventual champions Al Duhail and finished behind runners-up Al Sadd.

Al Rayyan underwent a slump in form and had many injury setbacks as they exited in the group stage of AFC Champions League along with Al Gharafa, while Al Duhail and Al Sadd advanced to the knockout round.

This time around, Al Rayyan are under new coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena in place of Michael Laudrup and they would look to put all such disappointments behind.

They suffered a blow as Abderrazaq Hamdallah, their top scorer last season, is a doubtful starter as he is still nursing an injury. Al Rayyan may even look to replace the Moroccan striker. Mohsen Moutaouli moved to Al Ahli, while Uruguayan defender Gonzalo Vieira and South Korean Koh Myong-Jin stayed with them.

Al Ahli would be eager to improve on their ninth-place finish last season. The Brigadiers have bolstered their ranks with Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong as well as medio Omid Ebrahimi and defender Mohammad Reza, both from Iran.

Qatar SC coach speaks

Qatar SC coach Abdulla Mubarak spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Gharafa.

“The preparatory period was very short. One month was not enough for the players to gear up for the season. However, we could make an elaborate plan for the tournament.

“We made the best use of our time. We played six friendly games and tried out three different combinations. All players were seen in action and I am so happy that they adapted well.

“We have tried to strike the right balance in our squad. We are up against a strong team (Al Gharafa) in the first match. But it is better to face Al Gharafa than facing Al Duhail at the very start of the season.

“Al Gharafa had put up a strong performance against CS Sfaxien (Tunisian club) at the Salalah tournament in Oman recently. But we are confident. We have set our targets and everyone in the club will be responsible to achieve them.

“My ambition is to put Qatar SC in the top rung of the QNB Stars League. To be among the top four is a difficult target to achieve. For that, we must double our efforts,” said Abdulla.

Al Gharafa coach Christian Gourcuff spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Qatar SC.

“All teams are staying focused, particularly at the beginning of the new season. And we are no different. We are concentrating much on our game against Qatar SC.

“We had a very good training camp in the Netherlands ahead of the start of the new season. And then, we played in a tournament in Salalah, Oman. We want to see how we can improve on our game further.

“In the league, you can get bad results sometimes. My life has always been about football, be it a player or coach. One or two games is not a period to assess a team’s overall level.

“I like to win every game. For that matter, all sides would like to win. You can win matches if you play good football. We hope to win Saturday’s match and thus make a strong start to our campaign.

“All my players are ready to take on Qatar SC,” said Gourcuff.

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Al Kharaitiyat coach Nassif Al Bayawi 

Al Kharaitiyat coach Nassif Al Bayawi spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Sadd.

“We have great confidence in our players and we will try to take advantage of our strong points. We have analysed the strengths and weaknesses of other teams and we will try to put up a strong performance than we did last season.

“We don’t like to compare the teams in the QNB Stars League. This is new season and we must start afresh. We have a new team with some new players. We will explore the possibilities to improve our position. Nothing is impossible.

“We hope to achieve our target without much difficulty. We have good support from the club administration. I take this opportunity to thank my players for all the efforts they put up in the pre-season.

“This is going to be one of the tough seasons and many teams will suffer.  In the QNB Stars League, only four teams play for top positions and the rest all belong to the lower tier. We are trying to be the best among the rest. That will depend on many factors. We lost (Rachid) Tiberkanine to Al Sailiya and we hope to make up for his absence,” said Al Bayawi.

Al Ahli coach Milan Macala 

Al Ahli coach Milan Macala spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Rayyan.

“First of all, congratulations to our rivals Al Rayyan on winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup, the season opener in Qatar. From our side, it is not easy to begin the new season. We only started our preparations on 1st of July. From the outset, we had problems. It is a complicated situation.

“Our professional players joined the squad only late and I hope we put up a better performance than we did last season. I also hope they all gel well with the team. We are trying to find out the best combinations that suit us.

“The new players in the squad must adapt to the situation sooner. I am sure they have the potential to do so. If all things fall in place, we can seek a better position. The fifth or even fourth spot is not impossible for us.

“Basically, we have to compensate for the short preparatory period and get the side ready for the tougher battles,” said Macala.

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Al Rayyan coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena

Al Rayyan coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Ahli.

“We could not have sought a better start to the new season than we had with the Sheikh Jassim Cup triumph. That has tremendously boosted our players’ confidence. More importantly, beating Al Duhail has helped us stand in good stead.

“I would say the Sheikh Jassim Cup is a closed chapter now and we have to turn a new leaf with regard to the QNB Stars League. It’s going to be a difficult game against Al Ahli. They had played some tough games last season, I understand.

“However, I have confidence in my players. I do not want to make tall claims at the start of a fresh league season. We only had 20 to 25 days together to prepare for the tournament.

“You have to work and work, correct the mistakes and improve the game. At the moment, we are not worried about victory or defeat. We are in the process of building a formidable side.

“The first priority goes to the players. Coach comes only after that. I want our results to speak for us,” said Arruabarrena.

Al Shahania coach Jose Murcia 

Al Shahania coach Jose Murcia spoke to the media ahead of their QNB Stars League Week 1 match against Al Duhail.

“We did a good job in the pre-season camp. We hope to build on our strong preparations and do a good job on our return to the QNB Stars League.

“We retained the services of all our overseas professional players even though we have added some new Qatari players to the squad. I hope they gel well with the foreign recruits sooner rather than later. I am sure they will combine well and lift their game when it matters the most.

“We will try to improve our game after every week and thus provide a good level of football. I have great confidence in our players. They are a spirited lot.

“I coached the team in the Second Division and know the players well. Even though the top flight is a different ball game altogether, we are upbeat about our prospects,” said Murcia.

Team Qatar will compete with over 250 athletes, including over 40 females at Asian Games

TEAM QATAR’S YOUNG ATHLETES SHARE HOPES AND DREAMS FOR 2018 ASIAN GAMES

Team Qatar will compete with over 250 athletes, including over 40 females at one of the biggest multi-sport events in the world

29 May 2018 – Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has introduced some of the Team Qatar athletes who will be competing at the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang this summer. Five young male and female athletes competing across a range of sports participated in a panel session that gave an insight into their preparations and aspirations for one of the biggest sporting competitions of their lives.

16 year-old swimmer Abdulaziz Al-Obaidly, World Para-Athletics Champion and Paralympic silver medallist Abdelrahman Abdelqader, female Taekwondo athlete, Huda Mohammed, indoor volleyball player Othman Abdelwahed and Youth Arab Champion hammer thrower Rania Al Naji will be amongst a huge Qatari delegation that will see over 250 Team Qatar athletes participate across 30 different sports. The 2018 Asian Games will take place in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from 18^th August – 2^nd September and the Asian Para Games will take place from the 8^th - 16^th of October in Jakarta also.

Aspiring young swimmer Abdulaziz Al Obaidly recently set two new personal bests in the 100m and 200m backstroke during Qatar’s Swimming Cup 2018. Still just 16-years-old, Al Obaidly has been gaining strong international experience in this year’s FINA Swimming World Series, which has seen him compete in Seychelles. Speaking about his preparations and hopes for the Asian Games, Al Obaidly said:

“The team and I are getting ready to attend two training camps before heading to Jakarta for the Asian Games. I will be the youngest swimmer amongst my teammates at the Games; this makes me proud and excited to do my best. ”

Qatar’s first-ever Para-Athletics World Champion Abdelrahman Abdelqader won gold in the T34 shot put in London last year after his tremendous silver medal, and Qatar’s first-ever Paralympic medal, at Rio 2016. Para-sport in Qatar has been continuing to grow in strength since Doha hosted the IPC Athletics World Championships in 2015, with team-mate Sara Masoud taking silver at both London 2017 and Rio 2016 and becoming Qatar’s first-ever global female medallist in the process. Abdelqader will be competing at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta October 2018, which parallels the 2018 Asian Games to be held in August. Abdelqader will be looking to add to his medal collection in Indonesia this October and he shared his thoughts on this:

“The upcoming Asian Para Games will see fierce competition in the shot put event. I will be competing against the best in Asia, but hopeful to set a new personal best. My training in Ramadan is intense, I am always aiming for gold and I’m looking to add a new medal to my collection.”

Team Qatar’s taekwondo athletes raised Qatar’s flag high in this month’s Asian Championships, which took place in Vietnam. Team Qatar competed with five athletes and came back home with a bronze medal through Qatar’s Othman Boularas, who also recently won gold at the World Taekwondo Beach Championships. Huda Mohammed will be Qatar’s first-ever Taekwondo (Poomsae) athlete to compete at an Asian Games this summer. Speaking about her hopes to inspire more young female athletes to follow in her footsteps through her performances, Huda, said:

“I started playing taekwondo as a hobby when I was 13; I then gradually took up the sport professionally. Many might think that taekwondo is not a girls’ sport but I highly recommend girls to try the poomsae because it does not require the athlete to compete against an opponent. In Poomsae, an athlete performs a set of motions and therefore the possibility for injuries is very low.”

Team Qatar’s indoor volleyball team came third in the World Cup qualifications 2018 beating the second ranked team in Asia. Othman Abdelwahed is one of the team members to compete at the Asian Games this summer. Speaking ahead of the Games, Abdelwahed said:

“We are heading to the Asian Games with a very well experienced team that have competed on an international level and achieved a lot. My team and I are very excited for this summer, hoping to come back home with a medal.”

Team Qatar’s rising star hammer thrower Rania Al Naji recently won a gold medal at the youth Arab Championships in Jordan 2018. With the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships on the horizon, it is a very exciting time for athletics in Qatar and Rania. Speaking about her sport, Rania said:

“Hammer throw focuses on mixing strength, power and the right techniques for a perfect throw. The sport requires lots of intense training for an athlete to increase their speed in spinning the hammer. I’m currently working on setting the required qualifying distance for the Asian Games and that is through my upcoming training camps.

You can follow Team Qatar’s preparations for the Asian Games on the Team Qatar social media channels and website, where further information and insights about their journeys and their achievements will be shared regularly.

Masterclasses on Sport Communications at NU-Q

Masterclasses on Sport Communications at NU-Q

Doha, Qatar – – Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) has announced three one-day masterclasses as part of its executive education program in sport communication. The program – The Changing Business of Sport and Sport Communications – will serve as a link for professionals who want to begin or enhance a career in sport communication and will focus on media, marketing, and law.

All of the masterclasses will be held at NU-Q’s new building in Education City. The first, scheduled for February 10^th is “Media Old and New, and the Transformation of World Sport”; the second, “Sport Law and Governance – The Rules that Regulate Sport Organizations” will be held on February 17^th; and the third, “Using Sport Marketing to Influence the Growth of Business and Sport,” on February 24^th.

“Over the past several years, NU-Q has broadened its programming to include more courses on sport and the media, which has proven to be very successful. Due to Qatar’s continued growth in this sector, which will require increased numbers of journalists prepared to cover international sporting events, we plan to continue to offer programming that will enhance that growth,” said Everette E. Dennis, dean and CEO.

The first seminar, taught by NU-Q Professor Craig LaMay, an expert in sports journalism, will examine what industry scholars refer to as “mediasport,” its current and future prospects, with special attention to the sports media landscape of Qatar and the Middle East. This will also include innovations in virtual and augmented reality, over-the-top sports content, e-sports, athlete-created media, fantasy sports, and big data. “With media mega-events like the World Cup and the Olympics moving their competitions from North America and Europe to Asia, including Qatar, these changes have also changed the job of sport journalists, and given rise to new and critical forms of sports journalism that don’t keep score, but rather cover the role sports play in social and economic development, and in shaping international human and civil rights norms,” LaMay said. LaMay, who is currently on leave from his position as associate professor at Northwestern’s Medill School, is in residence at NU-Q until 2019. In Evanston and Doha, he teaches a class on sport communication – “Sport, Media and Society: Less Than War But More Than a Game." 

The second seminar on sports governance and media law will be taught by Fordham University Professor Mark Conrad, author of The Business of Sports, and will discuss, compare, and analyze many of the key legal concepts that govern international sports, an industry that until recently has largely governed itself, with minimal involvement of national authorities anywhere. Conrad is the president of the Alliance for Sport Business, 2016-18; and past president, Sport and Recreation Law Association, 2014-2015.

“Part of Qatar’s sport strategy is to situate itself as a big player in global sports governance,” said LaMay. “The country realizes that with such decisions – like making beIN Sports one of the largest sports media operators or hosting large-scale events like the FIFA World Cup – the local media sector will have to transform as well. NU-Q plans to be at the forefront of good sports media by educating journalists on media law and ethics in the region.”

The last seminar, taught by Northwestern University Professor Candy Lee, will provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in sports marketing, which runs the spectrum from crisis communication on player behavior to ticket-pricing strategies for teams having a bad season. Lee was Teacher of the Year in 2012 for Integrated Marketing Communications at the Medill School at Northwestern and previously served as vice president of marketing at The Washington Post. The course will also consider traditional areas of marketing through the lens of sports and entertainment, and will include video interviews, examples, case studies, and discussion activities.

February’s masterclasses will be offered to individuals with undergraduate degrees and a minimum of one to two years of professional experience. A certificate in Sport Communication will be awarded for completion of all three masterclasses.

Each of the workshops will also include a luncheon speaker. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.qatar.northwestern.edu/education/executive/index.html

or email to exec.ed@qatar.northwestern.edu

-ENDS-

About Northwestern University in Qatar

Northwestern University in Qatar draws from its parent organization, Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois), a distinguished history, famous programs and an exceptional faculty. Founded in partnership with Qatar Foundation, NU-Q provides a framework through which students explore the world and, ultimately, shape its future through its distinguished schools of communication, journalism and strategic communication, and liberal arts.

Double for Rajat Raj Rameshan at New Vision Badminton Sport championship

The winners at the New Vision Badminton Sport tournament pose for a picture at American Academy School, Al Thumama in Doha

Double for Rajat Raj Rameshan 

Doha: Promising 12-year-old Rajat Raj Rameshan turned out to be the star performer at the New Vision Badminton Sport (NVBS) tournament winning two titles at American Academy School courts.

Rajat performed brilliantly in the under-17 category on way to the title and maintain the same level of consistency to pocket the top honours in the under-13 category.

Rajat Raj Rameshan 

In the under-17 final, Rajat overcame top seed Saadhwi Krishna Sheri 21-14, 21-14 to clinch the under-17 crown. In the under-13 final, Rajat outclassed Shashwath Praveen Score 21-3, 21-2.

In the semi-final, Saadhwi overcame a tough challenge from 13-year-old Faiz Ahmed Anas 18-21, 21-17, 21-15 to book a place in the final.

The under-13 girls title went to Rasha Sajeer who defeated Diya Manoj Shetty 21-13, 21-16 in the final.

Dilan Togi won the under-9 title defeating six-year-old Mashal Sahibjan Score 21-14, 21-8 in the final.

Most of the podium winning players have been training with coaches Manoj Sahibjan and Kesit Sustrisno for the last three months.

The prizes for the winners and the runners-up were given by officials representing the NVBS.

Mashal & Dilan

Diya & Rasha                 

Rajat Raj & Shashwath

            Saadhwi & Rajat Raj                                                     

FIRST NBA STORE IN MIDDLE EAST OPENS IN DOHA, QATAR

FIRST NBA STORE IN MIDDLE EAST OPENS IN DOHA, QATAR

- Store Features Latest Assortment of NBA Merchandise,

including Nike Jerseys, Footwear and Apparel -

- Official Store Opening Attended by NBA Champion Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton –

DOHA AND LONDON, Jan. 13, 2018 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Al Mana Fashion Group announced the official opening of the first NBA Store in the Middle East, located at Doha Festival City in Doha, Qatar.  

The official store opening was attended by three-time NBA All-Star and 2004 NBA Champion Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton, who was joined by Al Mana Sports Division General Manager Tom Foley and NBA EMEA Vice President, Global Merchandising Vandana Balachandar.

The 162 square-meter retail space, managed by Al Mana, features a wide selection of authentic NBA products, including current and former player jerseys, fan apparel, headwear, footwear, basketballs, toys and more, providing a one stop shopping experience for NBA fans in the region.

“The NBA Store is an exciting new concept to our portfolio.” said Foley. “With the support of the NBA, we have managed to bring this concept to Qatar. The store has great merchandise and delivers the real NBA experience, which will inspire the Qatari basketball consumer.”

“Our first NBA Store in the region will meet the growing demand that Qatari fans have for authentic NBA products,” said Balachandar.  “We are excited to partner with Al Mana Fashion Group to bring the latest NBA merchandise to fans in the region to help them celebrate their passion for the NBA.”

Fans can purchase a Nike NBA Connected Jersey, the first NBA jersey that gives the wearer an all-access pass into the world of their favorite team and players.  Fans can also personalize jerseys exclusively at the NBA Store in Doha.  The store also offers youth apparel, a range of autographed memorabilia, and an interactive zone where fans can hone their NBA 2K skills.

The flagship NBA Store in Doha, which builds on the league’s network of more than 300 NBA-branded retail locations globally, features products from brands including Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, Spalding, Stance, Under Armour, Jordan Brand, adidas and Bleacher Creatures.  The store is open Sunday to Wednesday from 10am to 10pm and Thursday to Saturday from 10am to midnight.

NBA fans in the Middle East can sign up to receive the latest offers and updates from the NBA Store in Qatar at nbastore-me.com.

About Al Mana

Al Mana is a Qatari conglomerate operating over 55 companies in 8 countries and employing over 3500 personnel.  Industry activities include automotive distribution and services, real estate and investments, retail, food and beverage, engineering, technology, media and entertainment. The group covers most areas of retail including luxury goods, beauty, fashion, sporting goods, home interiors, watches and jewelry.  Operating over 300 outlets, Al Mana represents some of the largest and most successful brands in the world.  The group is owned and operated by Hisham Saleh Al Mana, Kamal Saleh Al Mana and Wissam Saleh Al Mana, sons of the late Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana, in their capacity as executive directors.  For more information: http://www.almana.com/.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League, set to launch in May 2018.  The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2017-18 season featured 108 international players from a record 42 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.4 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.