January 3 – A senior delegation from Qatar’s 2022 World Cup Bid Committee flew to Saudi Arabia for the testimonial match of Nawaf al-Temyat between Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal Club and Italian champions Inter Milan, who are managed by Jose Mourinho, at the King Fahd international stadium.
Qatar’s bid was also one of the major sponsors of the match in Riyadh, which was a farewell game for midfielder Nawaf al-Temyat, who played for the club for 15 years before retiring in 2008 after a career during which he was capped 58 times by Saudi Arabia, scoring 13 goals, and was voted the Asian Player of the Year in 2000.
Nasser Fahad al-Khater, the communications director for Qatar’s bid, said: ”We are proud to endorse this friendly match between one of the top clubs of the region and the Italian champions Inter Milan, who are one of the most prestigious clubs in world football and enjoy a great following in the Middle East.
“Nawaf is a living legend in Saudi Arabian football and he has helped his team Al Hilal win honours at club level as well as being an integral part of the Saudi Arabian national side at three World Cup finals.
“The Qatar 2022 bid wishes to incorporate the whole of the Middle East in this outstanding celebration of football passion and excitement, and Nawaf has always been an excellent example of this sporting spirit.
“Just like Sami al-Jaber, one of our bid ambassadors, Nawaf represents the strength and passion of football in the Middle East.”
Mourinho accompanied a strong team to the Saudi capital for the match, including Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o, which the Italian side won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Argentinian striker Diego Milito (pictured).
Al -Khater said: ”We recently hosted the international game between England and Brazil in Doha, and Barcelona became the first team to win six trophies in one year in Abu Dhabi.
“The match in Saudi Arabia is equally about the football passion this region has always displayed, and which we want to translate into a fantastic, fan-friendly and architecturally astonishing World Cup in Qatar in 2022.”
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