QIFF: Scoring high in community football

Published: 11 November 2024

Sharaf Hameed, President of Qatar India Football Forum (QIFF), explains how its annual tournament has grown into the biggest expat football tournament in Qatar

By Godwin Isaac K

 Football unites. Every­where. But in a country like Qatar with a large expat population, foot­ball is much more than a sport: it is an instrument of social co­hesion and unity, something for people to bond around and recon­nect with, far away from their homeland.

The Qatar Indian Football Fo­rum (QIFF) has been performing this role for years, and now un­der the leadership of its Presi­dent, Sharaf Hameed, who is also CEO of City Exchange, it’s expanding to new frontiers in this world-famous sport.

QIFF, as it’s widely known, started as a modest initiative for the Indian expatriate communi­ty in Doha in 2007 and has since evolved into a major sporting or­ganization in the country with a signature football tournament which it organizes every year.

Initially held at the MES Indi­an School grounds, the tourna­ment has grown with increased support from the Qatar Football Association (QFA), which now provides access to stadiums and resources.

Today, QIFF stands as the biggest expatriate football tournament in the country, drawing thousands of fans to the stadiums on match days. “From the beginning, our goal has been to provide a platform for talented footballers in the ex­patriate community. Seeing the tournament grow year after year has been incredibly rewarding. Our mission is to keep expand­ing and foster a love for football in Qatar,” Sharaf P Hameed told News Trail.

Sharaf’s City Exchange served as the title sponsor of the tour­nament since its inception in 2007 except for one year, which means it supported the tour­nament for 14 out of its 15 edi­tions, playing a key role in its growth and popularity in Qatar. Over the years, QIFF has become a vital platform for football en­thusiasts from Kerala living in Qatar. The tournament allows them to reconnect with their pas­sion for the sport, build camara­derie, and showcase their skills. “The QIFF was the first Indian organization to organize a foot­ball tournament in Qatar in 2007. Back then, Doha was not as de­veloped, and there were signifi­cant limitations, especially in terms of availability of grounds and facilities” said Sharaf. Speaking about how the idea originated, he said: “There are many talented football players in Qatar who were once well-known in their districts back in Kerala during their younger years or college days.

However, due to limited job opportunities in India, many of them moved to Qatar for work. After a long day at work, their routine usually involves going home, having a meal, and go­ing straight to bed. Seeing this, the QIFF promoters thought – why not create a platform for these skilled individuals to re­connect with their passion for football? This idea led to the formation of the tournament.” This year, the tournament fea­tures 11 district teams from Kerala, each vying for the cham­pionship title in a league format. Matches will take place over five weeks. The tournament will then progress to the semi- fi­nal and then the grand finale. To participate in the tourna­ment, the player should be part of an organization from his district and that particu­lar organization will form the team to represent their dis­trict in the QIFF tournament Sharaf also shared his personal journey with football.

“When I first came to Qatar, I wasn’t a football fan. However, over time, I became a passion­ate supporter of the sport and even started playing football. Now, I play twice a week with friends, and no matter how busy I am, I never miss a match.” After supporting QIFF for sev­eral years as a sponsor, Sharaf officially joined as an executive member last year and this year he was made its president. “We have plans to establish a football academy in Doha to nurture tal­ent from school students to adult workers. This initiative aims to support not only Indian expatri­ates but also players from other Asian and international com­munities in Qatar,” he said. In addition to the annual QIFF tournament, a new Premier League style competition is set to launch in February.

The league will use an auc­tion-based system where fran­chises can “purchase” players using a points-based system instead of monetary transac­tions. With around 20 franchises expected, the two-month-long league aims to enrich Qatar’s football landscape further. As QIFF prepares for its 16th edition, the focus remains on expanding participation and en­hancing the experience for play­ers and fans alike. “Our vision is to unite football enthusiasts from all backgrounds and pro­vide them with opportunities to shine,” Sharaf emphasized. “The future of QIFF looks prom­ising as we aim to include a wide range of communities and age groups.”