Football is a game loved by people of all ages and the love for the sport brought a group of university students in Qatar and Dubai to join forces to start something big. They started an initiative called the Amiri Youth Football Cup with goals and aspirations of taking the tournament beyond the pitch, giving better opportunities for youngsters.
The ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) team caught up with the Team Leader of the Amiri Youth Football Cup, Alen Renny, to learn more about the group, what they do, their tournament format and their future goals for the group.
Read on to find out about it all in our Qommunity Voices feature.
Alen: The Amiri Youth Football Cup is an initiative I am leading with a group of university students from Qatar and Dubai. Our goal is straightforward - to provide consistent, quality football tournaments and events for youth at the grassroots level in our region.
Qatar's love for football is immense, but we recognise that kids don't always get enough opportunities to play the sport they are passionate about. The Amiri Youth Cup aims to fill that void.
Alen: When we were young students, we loved playing football, but there were not many tournaments for youth in our area. Instead of just wishing for more opportunities, we decided to create our own tournament that we could play in. That early dream and desire eventually grew into the Amiri Youth Football Cup.
We started this initiative to give passionate young players consistent chances to compete that we did not have when we were kids. This tournament is our way of providing a platform for Qatar's talented youth to pursue their football dreams, just like we once wished we could.
We are dedicated to using the Amiri Cup to nurture the next generation of players. Our own journeys inspired us to create the kind of opportunities we craved as young footballers. We hope this tournament can help make the aspirations of today's young talents become reality.
Alen: Fueled by our desires to provide more opportunities for the youth, our key unique aspect is that the Amiri Youth Football Cup gives a platform for players to showcase their talents, which is currently lacking in the Qatari Football Landscape.
While the elite youth in academies get to play regularly, we focus on creating chances for the other countless passionate players who don't get as many chances to play competitive matches. The Amiri Youth Cup opens its doors for all youth, allowing them to take the field and put their skills on display.
By creating an open tournament, we aim to uncover and nurture talent that may otherwise go undiscovered due to lack of exposure. Our goal is to be an inclusive event that gives every passionate young player in Qatar a chance to play. More importantly, have a fun time playing the sport they love.
Alen: The Amiri Youth Football Cup currently follows a knockout tournament format with 16 teams, having 7 players in the starting lineup and a maximum number of 5 substitutes. It is open to boys aged 15-18 from schools across Qatar. Teams enter and play matches, with the winners advancing and losers being eliminated after each round. The format continues with increasing stakes until the final two teams meet to crown the champion.
This knockout format provides an exciting, high-stakes environment where every game carries consequences. Teams must bring their absolute best from the opening whistle, as there is no margin for error or poor performances.
Alen: The members of the Amiri Youth Football Cup share a unique bond that goes beyond just organising a tournament together. As former classmates, we have been close friends for many years, united by our similar dreams since our student days of wanting to play in competitive football tournaments.
Our longstanding friendships and collective aspirations from our youth provide a strong foundation. This allows us to understand each other's motivations behind starting this initiative. The cohesiveness stemming from our shared history makes it natural for us to effectively collaborate, support one another, and work towards providing the kinds of quality opportunities we wanted as young players.
Alen: With our national team's success and our World Cup spotlight, interest and participation in the sport is booming among our Qatari youth. The resources being poured in, combined with the nation's passion for football, create tremendous potential for the youth football scene to flourish in the years ahead.
By providing more pathways, like what the Amiri Youth Cup aims to offer, from an early age, Qatar could produce a future generation of elite players capable of competing with the world's best on the biggest stages. The future looks bright for young footballers pursuing the game seriously in Qatar.
Initiatives focused on nurturing young talent through quality competition will be key. With the right platforms, this could become a golden age for Qatari football.
Alen: Firstly, they provide a crucial development pathway by offering competitive experiences at a young level. Facing quality opposition in meaningful matches can accelerate the learning and skills required to become elite players. Initiatives like this elevate the standard of youth football across the region.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they create opportunities for kids to have fun playing the game they love in an era dominated by technology and indoor games. In a generation where social media and video games seem to dominate, we want to refocus the energy on getting our young people active, social, and focused on healthy competition through such cups.
By combining skills development with an emphasis on having a good time, tournaments like these nurture the holistic growth of young players.
Alen: The Amiri Youth Football Cup is completely for the youth, by the youth, and of the youth. Currently, the tournament is focused on players under 18 years old, including those who are 18. However, there are plans to expand and bring 19 and 20-year-olds into the project.
Students within those age ranges are welcome and encouraged to join the Amiri Cup. To secure a spot, interested players must contact the tournament organisers directly. This can be done by contacting the Amiri Cup's official communication channels like social media accounts.
The organisers are passionate about making this a truly youth-driven initiative, so they make it a straightforward process for young players to get involved. If you meet the age criteria, you can join the Amiri Youth Football Cup simply by expressing your interest and confirming your participation with the organisers.
Alen: While we have bold aspirations, our immediate future goals are centred on solidifying the Amiri Youth Football Cup as the premier youth development platform within Qatar. Our key objective is gaining recognition and support from official bodies like the Qatar Football Association.
We are passionate about providing consistent, high-quality competitive opportunities, understanding we have more to learn. Working hand-in-hand with the QFA's expertise would be invaluable for taking this initiative to the next level through guidance on areas like operations, scouting and more.
Looking ahead, we hope to evolve the Amiri Cup into a comprehensive youth league that attracts the best young players across Qatar. Our goal is to make this a model program that contributes to producing Qatar's future football stars.
Alen: To elevate the Amiri Youth Football Cup, we have initiated conversations with key organisations in Qatar. We aim to connect with QFA in the coming days to explore synergies that can propel our initiative further.
While our group of organisers is driven by passion, we require support structures to host large-scale, quality youth tournaments. This includes financial assistance through sponsorships or institutional backing to maximise reach, and operational guidance from experienced entities on staffing, scheduling, and management. With the right organisational support complementing our grassroots efforts, the Amiri Cup can become an impactful national-level platform nurturing Qatar's future talents.
Alen: To all aspiring footballers from Qatar, your journey to success begins with dedication and seizing opportunities like the Amiri Youth Cup. Embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and keep improving daily. Believe in your abilities and never lose sight of your dreams. Whether you win or lose, cherish every moment on the field as an opportunity to grow and learn. So, give it your all, enjoy the game, and let your love for football shine bright. With hard work and determination, you can make our nation proud.
Alen: To ensure every youth can easily access and participate, we make the registration process simple. Team captains or interested players can directly get in touch with us, the organisers, through the following channels:
Just send a direct message on our Instagram or a WhatsApp message to the provided number, and we will guide you through the remaining steps to register your team or yourself for our upcoming tournaments.
Do you know of someone who has exceptional talent or is making a difference in our Qatar community? Drop us a line in the comments below, and you could see them highlighted in our next Qommunity Voices!
Cover image credit: Alen Renny
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