Today marked the launch of the first edition of the Captain Saeed Al-Misned Futsal Championship. The event was attended by several prominent sports figures, including His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth, Mr. Mohammed bin Hammam, former President of the Asian Football Confederation, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Sports Sector at the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Qatar School Sports Federation, along with His Excellency Sheikh Fahd bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Boxing and Wrestling Federation, Dr. Mohammed Diab, Vice President of Qatar University for Student Affairs, Mr. Ali Al-Hitmi, President of the Gymnastics Federation, Mr. Mansour Al-Ansari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Football Association, and Mr. Yusuf Al-Mulla, Executive Secretary of the Beach Group, the official sponsor of the tournament.
The opening ceremony, held at Qatar University, began with a beautiful recitation of the Quran, followed by a special video about the journey of the late Saeed Al-Misned, and an exhibition match featuring veteran players who were coached by Al-Misned. In the tournament’s first match, the Green Team secured an exciting 4-3 victory over Al-Wajba. The first round will conclude on Saturday with a match between Al-Wajba and Bima Insurance. The opening day also featured entertainment activities and raffles with cash prizes worth 150,000 Qatari riyals, in addition to awards for the best player of each match.
Mr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Misned, General Manager of the Captain Saeed Al-Misned League, expressed his great happiness with the impressive turnout at the opening ceremony. He said, “The opening was fantastic and special, with the participation of a group of veteran players and the attendance of prominent sports figures, led by His Excellency the Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and Mr. Mohammed bin Hammam, along with many prominent figures in Qatari sports.” He added, “Sports are an integral part of our Qatari identity, and football, in particular, is very popular in our community, bringing together different age groups and social classes. Through this tournament, we aim to spread the culture of community sports and enhance the concept of health and partnership between individuals and institutions.” He continued, “As the son of Captain Saeed Al-Misned, a symbol of Qatari football, I am keen to continue his legacy.”
It is worth mentioning that the late Captain Saeed Al-Misned had a career spanning nearly 40 years, making significant contributions to numerous football achievements, particularly in coaching. He led the national team to win the Asian Games title in 2006 and helped them secure the Gulf Cup three times in 1992, 2004, and 2014, as well as the International Friendship Cup in 2018. He also had a playing career that lasted 17 years, leading Al-Khor to win the Second Division Cup and achieve promotion to the First Division, as well as reaching the Amir Cup final. His playing career continued with both Al-Sadd and the national team. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the famous Brazilian coach (Evaristo de Macedo) and later helped lead the national U-17 team to the World Cup finals in 1985 in China and in 1999 in New Zealand. He also coached the national first team at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China, continued as a technical advisor for Qatar’s national teams, and became one of the most influential figures in the history of Qatari football, contributing to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup win.
Yusuf Al-Mulla: We are happy with the success of the opening
Mr. Yusuf Al-Mulla, Executive Secretary of the Beach Group, the official sponsor of the tournament, expressed his happiness with the success of the opening of the Captain Saeed Al-Misned Futsal Championship. He said, “The first day of the tournament was extremely special, with a remarkable presence of sports figures, including the Minister of Sports and Youth. The opening exhibition match was wonderful and showed a high level of sportsmanship.” He added, “This event reflects the Beach Group’s commitment to supporting sports and youth in Qatar, and aims to enhance the status of futsal as a developed and beloved sport. We thank all the participants, organizers, and fans, and we look forward to more excitement and competition in the upcoming days of the tournament.”
