The Qatar Stars League (QSL) is embarking on a mission to match higher standards, with plans being put in place to restructure the running of clubs, hiring of players and coaches to take the country’s premier football league to new heights.
Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, QSL’s Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development in a meeting with media recently revealed new plans to make QSL better. A number of steps will be taken in this regard in the coming editions, which includes a reduction of number of competing teams from 12 to 10 from 2023-24 season.
QSL is also in the process of constituting a Central Scouting Team (CST) which will look into the clubs’ recruitment policies and guide them with new policies.
Qatar will achieve the highest level of facilities by staging the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the new QSL plans will ensure that the country will continue getting top quality matches after the football showpiece event.
The CST, which will start functioning later this year, will play a crucial role in the league’s uplift, helping clubs bring in talent that is matched in their philosophy and suited to their requirements.
The CST would also help the clubs scout top talent across the globe to come to Qatar. It will also alter its outlook by becoming a sellers’ league instead of just being a buyers’ league.
The CST will function under a sporting director, who will have an ‘extraordinary’ global network. The responsibility of the official will not just about recruiting the right player but about understanding which player can add value as well in the future, so that a club can sell them or loan them to clubs in Europe.
The reduction in the number of teams will be another key step in transforming the league as there will more high quality and competitive matches, which will attract more spectators.
“Our vision was to become one of the best leagues in Asia both on and off the pitch. Definitely, we are now one of the best league countries in Asia but we want to get better in terms of professionalism and football standards,” said Abbassi.
The QSL has developed over the years, luring top footballers from around the world. After becoming one of the elite leagues in Asia, the QSL will achieve new milestones by following their plans in the next editions.
