The Not-So Angry Commissioning Engineer Goes To The Tour Of Qatar
0 comments Posted by Monkeehanger at 7:02 AM
With new Bass player Lacko 'the bass player' Nick and The Not-so-angry Commissioning Engineer fronting the band proved to be a big hit.
I made it to the Qatar v Japan World Cup qualifying match last night and it was yet another bizarre Qatari experience!
We set of to the ground (we finally found out where it was at from a colleague as the match wasn't advertised at all!) and encountered the usual match day traffic, or maybe it was just rush hour Doha. Anyway, the usual Qatari mayhem and dicing with death on the roads and we got parked about 10 minutes walk from the ground - this is obviously the sensible English way to do it. Unlike all the locals who were insistent they could pile their landcruisers in as close as the lazy gits could get them to the stadium - one even pulled up outside the stadium, up onto the path and just left it there in full view of what few police were there!
We found the ticket office which had every booth manned only to be told just to go in anyway. So there were some people with tickets and some without, although they did seem to vet who came in as there wasn't one Indian to be seen in there! The trouble with free seating is that is causes mayhem inside as people try and scramble for a seat, something which a nation born to chaos find very easy to screw up completely!
Eventually we found a few of the remaining seats just as the local marching band came onto the pitch...bagpipes the lot! For some reason all the Brits found this hilarious, it was like going back 30 years to an English cup final!!!
The Al Saad Stadium itself is described on it's website as "A perfect replica of Old Trafford"...well unless Old Trafford has been bombed, rebuilt to look like a cheap version of a 3rd Division ground then I don't think it is. In true Qatari style, the stadium looks quite good on the face of things but you soon realise on closer inspection that it ain't (and never will be) finished!
On the concourse there was about 50 or so locals on the prayer mats (Qatar flags) giving it the big 'un towards Mecca...this divine intervention must surely mean they were going to win...err...no.
The mass off white dish dashes and Qatari flag waving made a good spectacle as the game kicked off, they actually appeared to be showing some spirit and passion for a change. Neither team got to grips with the game in the first 15 minutes, but it wasn't a bad affair with both teams putting in a bit of effort where they lacked in skill. Although I don't think I've seen any more theatrical diving and rolling about than that witnessed last night by the Japs! Really surprised me too as I thought they'd be above all that.
Unfortunately in true Qatari style...15 minutes attention span was up and that was it, all the supporters started getting out the ipods, mobile phones and obligatory cigarettes! They were obviously bored, while the away contingency continued there relentless chanting and banging of drums.
The boredom spread to the pitch and the Japanese got their first via some dodgy defending and through the keepers legs - a most unlikely looking 'Qatari' keeper, 6'4" and obviously African - like most of the team it would appear - looks like they've gone for the Jack Charlton citizenship approach - i.e. We can make you a Qatari no problem!
Half time and all the Qatari support stood up and milled around for a bit, although 15 minutes break still wasn't enough for them to get back to their seats in time - what do they do at half time? Go to the bookies...err no...go for a pint...err...no...bacon sandwich...errr no?
A quick goal in the 2nd half from Japan and it was pretty much over from there on in. The most comedy moment was still yet to come though.
On about 65 minutes the Japs got the third and literally as one, just about all of the home support stood up and left!!! Unbelievable, talk about loyal support!
Even better followed, as the ones who had stayed behind formed a line of white around the edges of the pitch. We thought they were going to go on a pitch invasion... but no.....as one they held each other hands and turned their back to the pitch (see pics!) and refused to watch any more of the game!!!! They stayed like that until full time, very very bizarre!
Full time...Qatar 0 Japan 3, fairly moderate game with little skill, but entertaining enough.