Dr. Mahfoud Amara
The Qatar Stars League (QSL) as other sport leagues in the country is dominated by foreign coaching talent. While this international presence has brought tactical sophistication and visibility to Qatari football and sport in general, it has also presented a paradox: the very excellence that foreign coaches deliver may involuntarily hinder the growth of a sustainable domestic coaching ecosystem.
The reliance on foreign coaches reflects global trends in talent acquisition but raises pressing questions about the future of football development in Qatar, especially in relation to national capacity-building.
One of the core challenges lies in the limited opportunities available for domestic coaches to break into the top level. Without regular access to managerial roles, aspiring local coaches struggle to gain the competitive experience required to evolve professionally. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle: clubs lack confidence in domestic coaches due to their inexperience and coaches remain inexperienced because they are not given the chance to lead.
The apparent absence of structured mobility within the league further complexes this problem. Unlike foreign coaches who may arrive with top-tier experience, domestic coaches often start at grassroots or youth levels and find few avenues for upward movement. Without defined progression pathways, the pool of qualified and competitive local coaching talent risks stagnation. When coaching roles are overwhelmingly filled by foreigners, it can send an implicit message that local knowledge and leadership are undervalued – something that can dissuade younger generations from viewing coaching as a viable long-term career in sport.
Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities to transform the current reality into a foundation for sustainable growth. The presence of high-caliber foreign coaches should be viewed not necessarily as a source of competition but also as a potential resource for mentorship and knowledge exchange. Well-designed mentorship schemes could pair experienced foreign coaches with local counterparts, enabling practical learning through direct engagement.
Creating a truly competitive cohort of domestic coaches requires deliberate, strategic investment across multiple institutional layers. National sport coaching programs need to expand their reach and rigour, aligning with global best practices while incorporating local context. Certification processes must be standardised and trusted, and ongoing development opportunities should be built into the coaching lifecycle. Furthermore, domestic coaches need regular exposure to competitive environments. This can be achieved through rotations within youth national teams, assistant roles in senior squads, and even overseas placements through bilateral exchange agreements with foreign sport federations. A structured pathway—from licensing to apprenticeship to head coach roles—would allow talent to be nurtured methodically, rather than sporadically.
Here, the newly launched College of Sport Sciences at Qatar University plays a critical role. As the country’s academic and research institution, the College is well positioned to serve as a national hub for sport coaching development, supported by strong partnerships with key national sport organizations. Through its current undergraduate and future postgraduate programs, research initiatives, and community partnerships, it can foster a new generation of sport professionals—including coaches—equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical competence. Moreover, the College’s emphasis on evidence-based coaching, culturally rooted but open to international trends, makes it an ideal partner in designing and implementing domestic coaching pathways aligned with Qatar’s broader sport vision.
Dr. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management at Qatar University.
Dr. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management at Qatar University.
