.jpg)
By Duncan Mackay
December 13 – Ronald De Boer (pictured right), the former Barcelona and Holland star, said that he is supporting Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup because he believes the tiny country on the Arabian Peninsula can put on the best tournament.
De Boer, who was capped 67 times by Holland and scored 13 goals during a career that also included a spell in Scotland with Glasgow Rangers, was unveiled at Soccerex in Johannesburg last month as an official ambassador for Qatar’s bid, alongside former Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta.
Both players ended their careers in Qatar where he played for Al-Rayyan and Al-Shamal but, unlike Batistuta, De Boer has continued to live there and has no plans to leave.
He told insideworldfootball: “It is important that people get to know the Middle-East.
“For me, this is important.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about the Middle East.
“When I first left Holland to play in Qatar, nobody knew where it was and now, everyone knows.
“I want to tell everyone that it is such a hospitable and friendly nation and beautiful.
“I live in Qatar and have done for six years and stopped playing two-and-a-half years ago.
“I didn’t stay because of the bid but I stayed because I love the country.
“I have three daughters and I think it is a great environment to bring up your kids.
“When they asked to be an ambassador, I had no hesitation in saying, ‘Yes’.”
Qatar does not have a reputation for being football-mad but De Boer claims that the fans there are as fanatical about the sport as anywhere else in the world and that it is about time that the Middle-East was rewarded with a major sports event.
He said: ”They are so passionate about football that you wouldn’t believe.
“People say to me, ‘Ah, I remember the game you played in 1998 and I remember the games with Ajax’ and they talk about those games and I think, ‘How is it possible that you know that?’
“When you see Algeria against Egypt then you can see how passionate it is.”
De Boer, who enjoyed the most successful spell of his career at Rangers in the four-year period between 2000 and 2004 after joining them from Barcelona, is now fully committed to helping Qatar’s bid.
He said: ”If I can help bring the world a little closer, I would love to help.”
The gas and oil-rich country has already promised to build up to 12 state-of-the-art stadiums to host the World Cup if they are awarded the event by FIFA at a meeting on December 2, 2010.
De Boer said: ”They will have the most beautiful stadiums that you will ever see and I think the fact that it is a small country is an advantage as football is for the fans and it may be cheaper for the fans as they don’t have to travel too much.”
Qatar have promised that all the stadiums will include the latest cooling technology to ensure that players will not be affected by temperatures that can reach as high as 41 degrees when the World Cup is due to take place in June and July.
De Boer said: ”With the technology nowadays, we can air condition the whole stadium so there’s no problem.
“I played in Orlando at the 1994 World Cup when it was 40 degrees and it felt like 50 degrees, so I don’t think there is any room to doubt that at that time we can play.
“I am not worried about that.”
The odds are stacked against Qatar but their bid is being taken increasingly seriously.
De Boer said: ”I hope to be part of history and bring the first World Cup to the Middle East. I want to help.”
“Everybody has a fair chance of winning and if you don’t try, you will never know.
“Judging from my experience playing at World Cup finals and other top events - and from my experience living in Qatar for more than five years - I believe Qatar has all the qualities to host a fantastic and unforgettable World Cup.
“The country has the outstanding sporting facilities needed to host the world’s greatest football tournament, the region-wide passion for the game, and it brings to the mix an exceptionally hospitable nature which has made me decide to stay on in Qatar even after my playing career finished.
“Without a doubt, Qatar has the possibility to win.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734862206labto1734862206ofdlr1734862206owedi1734862206sni@y1734862206akcam1734862206.nacn1734862206ud1734862206.
Related stories
December 2009: De Boer and Batistuta offer heavyweight support to Qatar 2022