Qatar’s women football team coach Monika Staab has revealed her admiration of the country’s sports infrastructure in an interview with FIFA website, saying that she expects to change can be made in the next few years.
Staab, who took over the top managerial post in Qatari women football in February, said Qatar’s infrastructure compares well to the majority of countries she had visited. “During my career I have had the opportunity to observe womens football in 63 countries. If I compare the structures in Qatar with the situation in a great majority of the countries I have visited, I can say that Qatar has an advantage, and we can trigger change in the next five years.”
Staab said that Qatar have a very well organized women’s league that is of great help for the national team. “However, we need to ensure everyone understands the benefits that women’s football can bring to society as a whole,” she added.
“The players of our newly established U-14 womens national team practice every day after school. These girls are becoming important role models in Qatar because they are showing that women’s football can be an integral part of daily life. Also from a competitive point of view, we have made important steps forward: the first-ever international matches of our women’s national team outside Qatar were recently held in Maldives. Even though we lost both games, the experience was priceless. Now our players know what it takes to do well abroad. We can’t wait for our upcoming training camp in Germany,” Stabb said.
She hailed the work of the Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana, President of the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee in promoting women sports and praised Qatar’s social progress as well when it comes to women participation.
“Qatar has progressed in social terms and the right messages have been sent out to women. My idea is to make the next step while respecting and adapting to Qatari culture. I have found excellent working conditions here, and Im convinced that well be able to make a valid contribution within the scope of a five-year development project.”
She revealed that she had “positive talks” with the tournament’s supreme committee, saying that they are committed to supporting the establishment of an academy for women’s football. “This is a great sign if you consider that women’s football in Qatar is a rather new discipline that was officially established in 2009. There is still plenty to do, especially in terms of awareness. The 2022 FIFA World Cup represents a great opportunity to show the whole world how things have progressed in Qatar. Women’s football in the Arab world could benefit from the 2022 World Cup.”
Staab also underlined the huge impact of the 2022 World Cup on Qatar, a country whose people, she says, are “very passionate” about football. She said that Qatar’s National Vision 2030 is perhaps the best example of the huge expectations the World Cup has triggered.
“I believe the World Cup could make a contribution to society as a whole, including women. I’m also convinced women could play an important role in tackling the conflict that potentially looms in the Arab world,” She added
Source:
Qatar Chronicle
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