Goan representatives during a meetup held by Portugal Fans Qatar 2022.
Photo Credits: The Goan
DOHA, QATAR
Portugal football fans heading to Qatar this year’s FIFA World Cup are set to have a slice of all things Portugal besides getting a sample of things offered on the platter by the host country. Portuguese fans are set to have an encompassing experience in Qatar. Thanks in a large measure to the proactive role members of the Portugal Fans Qatar 2022 have taken upon themselves. Members of the group have spread their nets far and wide.
They want to make the fan experience, for visiting fans and those who are based in Qatar, a memorable one. They have a job cut for themselves in the days and months heading to the World Cup. They are moving at a fast pace to connect all the Portuguese fans of different nationalities based in Qatar.
They have set the ball rolling on different fronts. Connecting individuals, connecting communities and having on their wish list a few things for the fans in mind. Besides football they want to connect all things Portuguese - music, food and culture and so as to make it an all-round family experience.
If they started this week with a social media shoot near 3-2-1 Olympic stadium in Doha Sports City they ended on Thursday with a brainstorming meeting with some key Qatar-based Goan fan representatives. On Thursday, it was a chance for a select group of Portugal Fans in Qatar to sample some Portuguese snacks like Vol Au Vent, Pao Com Chourico, Casquinha de Crème, Pastel de Nata and to end with Summer Cooler Berry Tarts, all coming through the courtesy of Jazz Café, the coffee, cake and snack joint which is managed by Goan, Jeronimo D’Souza in partnership with Qatari national Jassim M Al Theyab.
Giving a brief of some of the important things discussed at the meeting one of the senior most member of the group Antonio Vas, a Goan said: “We will be adding all those football fans who are supporters of Portugal to the existing four WhatsApp groups and if necessary form new groups as the number increases. We also request fans to follow us on our social media channels like Tik Tok, Instagram and facebook”
Antonio, who speaks fluent Portuguese, informed that the Portuguese fans are very much interested in knowing more about Goa and how Portugal's rule of more than 450 years has influenced its culture. “It is well known that Portuguese influence has made its impact on many things in Goa and one such field is music. We will be trying to bring all the performing artists, singers and musicians from Goa and who are based in Qatar and provide them a platform to perform in various upcoming programs which the Portugal Fans Qatar 2022 are planning to host.”
The 100-day countdown is one such event that the group is looking forward to celebrating on a grand scale with a dose of music, food and football while connecting families and fans, all which is high on Elisabete Reis mind.
Maputo, Mozambique-born Portuguese, and a longtime resident of Qatar attended the meet along with Ana, another Portuguese citizen. Elisabete, a businesswoman has been living in Qatar since 2006, was invited by Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the organization tasked with delivering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and its legacy to be the fan leader in Qatar of the Portugal team fans in the FIFA 2022 Football World Cup an offer she has accepted and has fully immersed into it.
"I was nominated Portugal Fan Leader Qatar 2022, an invitation I accepted with great joy and pride. The nomination means representing Portugal in the many events that the Organization will promote in Qatar until the World Cup in November. I will be a representative, so to speak, not only of the Portuguese fans living here, but of all those who love Portugal's national team," she explains.
For the records, the work of bringing all the Portuguese fans under the umbrella of “Portugal Fans Qatar 2022” was set in motion by four Qatar-based Malayalee friends Jinshad Ali, Riyas Rasak, Hafsal Bin Haneefa and Mohamed Shahil.
"Four young Indians living in Qatar recently created a group of fans of the Portugal national team in Qatar, Portugal Fans Qatar. Jinshad Ali, Riyas Rasak, Hafsal Bin Haneefa and Mohamed Shahil are crazy about Portugal, they invited me to join them and I accepted; there was no point in creating other profiles if we have such enthusiastic people," she added about the four, three of them who were present for the meeting with Goan representatives.
