Below you can find an interesting interview with Al-Rayyan manager Khalid Bin Hassan Al Thani done by Mico Martic during the recent AFC Futsal Club Championships held in Doha.

Why have you chosen futsal, when did you begin with it and which are the roots of your passion for our sport?
I began in 2007 with Al-Rayyan as team manager, cause a friend of mine was already involved in the club staff. We conquered the first ever league organized by the national FA and probably that was the main reason to fall in love with futsal. Basically I like the game, I often enjoy futsal games on television (LNFS Division de Honor, Italian Serie A1, Russian Superleague mainly)

As mentioned you're currently running the Al-Rayyan management: which are the ambitions and hopes of your club, starting from this competition (AFC Futsal Club Champs)and thinking about the next ones?

It's very easy to point that out. To be always the Nr.1, this is my dream.


How is the level of futsal in Qatar and what kind of futsal development is currently in progress?
Thanks to Francisco Batista, futal in Qatar is developing very well and fast. I consider coaching courses and coaches education the most important issues for development, as well as taking into account the general knowledge of the game. It's also basic to get much more people involved with futsal, this is also possible through television broadcasting of league games

How do you rate the standard of your national league? Do you think in future it will become one of the recognized worldwide competitions?
If I think about the asian standards our league is surely good, even if it could be much better. I really hope the qatari league to turn into one of the best leagues in Asia as a first step, and for this aim we need more high level coaches and players.


As mentioned before you also follow international futsal. Do you like any competitions or players in particular? Which futsal star would you take to Al Rayyan?
Yeah, of course. Internet and television give us the chance to follow the main leagues all around the world. I really love to watch players like Fernandao and Christian from Barceona, or the argentinean Matias Lucuis of Caja Segovia and new player of Inter Movistar. Something special? Falcao and Ricardinho belong to that category for sure. Having the portuguese in the Al-Rayyan roster would be a dream.


Which is your opinion on the Qatari National team and the current coach Francisco Batista?
It's not so easy to evaluate Francisco Batista cause he's a master in Futsal, for sure he is one of the best futsal coaches I know. He knows how important is working within clubs and the league quality and he helps a lot all our leauge clubs.
Qatar national Team has a good potential, I believe Qatari FA has to involve more players to takr part in our National Futsal Team.


Which are your personal plans for futsal, what do you think is the key to improve the standard of our sport and to make it more popular all over the world?
Well, as I was telling before my aim is to be on top, living in the futsal elite. My belief is that the inclusion of futsal in the Olympic Games and more TV coverage are both main keys for futsal popularity to grow up.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com