Al Nusoor claimed a 1-0 win in the opening match.
Doha, Qatar: The second edition of the Al Thumama Ramadan Championship kicked off with two matches decided on the opening day at Al Furjan Stadium in Al Thumama on Tuesday night.
In the opening match, Al Nusoor came out on top, securing a 1-0 victory over defending champions Al Janoubia. Youssef Moawad from Al Nusoor was named the Best Player of the Match. The match was closely contested, but Al Nusoor’s solid defense and clinical finishing made the difference, giving them a strong start in the tournament.
The second match saw a different turn of events. Al Urduniya was unable to field a full team, with only five players showing up.
According to the tournament regulations, the match was automatically counted as a 3-0 win in favour of Tariq bin Ziyad, as Al Urduniya did not meet the minimum player requirement. This decision left fans disappointed, but it highlighted the importance of team management and punctuality for the tournament’s success.
In next matches, Tariq bin Ziyad will face Al Adham in what promises to be a competitive game, while Al Nusoor will take on Al Yarmouk in a battle of tactical minds. Finally, Palestine will meet Al Urduniya.
Hassan Al Ishaq, member of the Municipal Council and Chairman of the Organising Committee, shared his thoughts on the tournament’s launch.
Expressing his satisfaction, he noted that this edition would be more competitive than ever.
“We allowed each team to register 15 players to provide greater flexibility in case some players are unavailable. Additionally, the regulation allowing teams to play with seven players in case of absence has added more flexibility, which has been beneficial for the teams,” Al Ishaq explained.
He also addressed the issue with Al Urduniya, saying, “We regret the poor management of the Jordanian team, which arrived for their match against Tariq bin Ziyad with only five players. This did not align with the tournament regulations, and we had no choice but to count the result in favor of Tariq bin Ziyad.”
