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ILoveQatar.net
27-05-2025
- Sport
- ILoveQatar.net
QFA Awards honours football excellence in Qatar
The QFA Awards 2025 took place on 26 May 2025, celebrating key individuals and fans who have significantly enhanced the football landscape in Qatar. Akram Afif, a standout player for Al-Sadd Club, received the Best Player Award for the 2024/2025 season, marking his second consecutive win and the fifth in his career. Félix Sánchez, head coach of Al-Sadd Club, was honored with the Best Coach Award for the 2024/2025 season. Meshaal Barsham, goalkeeper for Al-Sadd Club, won the Best Goalkeeper Award in its inaugural edition for the 2024/2025 season. Mohammed Manaai, a prominent player for Al Shamal Club, earned the Best U-23 Player Award for the 2024/2025 season. Roger Guedes, a star player of Al Rayyan Club, claimed the 'Mansour Muftah Top Scorer Award' for the 2024/2025 season, netting a total of 21 goals. Best Refereeing Team Award – 2024/2025 Season Best Referee: Mohammed Al-Shammari Best First Assistant Referee: Juma Al-Borshaid Best Second Assistant Referee: Khaled Khalaf Best VAR Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim In its first edition, the Best Fans Award goes to 'Al-Sadd' Club's stand for the 2024/2025 season. Source and cover image credit: Qatar Football Association
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 PWHL Draft Profile: Anna Shokhina
The last time the world got to see Anna Shokhina play against top competition was the 2022 Olympics. She's Russia's top forward, and the fact she's looking to North America could open new avenues for Russian players. Last season Ilona Markova declared for the PWHL Draft and was selected by the Boston Fleet. Ultimately, she didn't make the roster, but was close, and will also look to return to North America this year. Shokhina however, is in a tier above Markova as a player. In the last eight seasons, Shokhina has led the ZhHL, Russia's women's league, in scoring five times. She's a perennial All-Star and has won the league's Best Player Award multiple times. As she told The Hockey News of choosing to pursue the PWHL, "This is a strong league in the world, I am very interested in playing at this level." Shokhina is a strong shooter both in tight and from the blueline or right circle on the power play. She has all the skills necessary to play in the PWHL, the question will be, who will take her, and how high. There was risk involved in picking Markova last year. She had finished 19th in ZhHL scoring, was young, and didn't have the same physical maturity and experience of Shokhina. Last season, Shokhina finished 18 points ahead of Markova in Russian scoring. This year, Shokhina led the ZzHL in scoring by 13 points, totalling 30 goals and 73 points in only 42 games. She also led the playoffs in goals and points with nine goals and 16 points in nine games. Internationally, Shokhina has represented Russia at three Olympics, multiple World Championships, captained Russia's U-18 national team, and won three gold at the Universaide. It's hard to imagine a PWHL won't take a shot on Shokhina. The Russian league is very weak with only a few competitive teams, meaning Shokhina will need to quickly get up to speed. She certainly can compete in the PWHL given time, and could evolve into a draft day steal depending on how she adapts.
Arab Times
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Gulf Cup for Veterans enters decisive stages in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 24: The Gulf Cup for Veterans, hosted by Kuwait, has reached its critical stages with the semi-final matches set for today. The champion of Group One will face the runner-up of Group Two at 4:45 PM, while the champion of Group Two will compete against the runner-up of Group One at 6:30 PM at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. The tournament will conclude tomorrow, Wednesday, with the final match scheduled for 7:00 PM at the same venue. The second round of the tournament continued with a series of draws. On Sunday, Qatar played to a 1-1 draw against Oman, while Kuwait and the UAE finished 0-0 in Group One. In Group Two, Iraq and Bahrain ended their match goalless, while Saudi Arabia secured a 1-0 victory over Yemen. Bahraini goalkeeping legend Hamoud Sultan praised the Gulf Cup for Veterans, stating that its success was ensured by being hosted in Kuwait. He expressed his gratitude to the Kuwait Football Association and Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef for the invitation to attend, despite not being part of Bahrain's squad. Sultan highlighted how the tournament rekindled fond memories for Gulf football stars who had been away from the spotlight for years. He commended Kuwait for its excellent hosting of the inaugural edition and expressed hope that future tournaments could be held alongside the official "Gulf 27" competition, ensuring greater fan engagement and media coverage. He also emphasized that the tournament prioritizes camaraderie over competition, with its true essence being a celebration of Gulf football heritage under the banner "Made in Kuwait." Sultan further noted that the event serves as a motivation for retired players to maintain their fitness and remain involved in the sport, lamenting the decline in physical activity among some former Gulf stars. Former UAE national team star Nasser Khamis, who won the Best Player Award in the 1990 Gulf Cup in Kuwait, expressed his delight at participating in the event. He was thrilled to reunite with Gulf football icons from the 1980s and noted that the close competition in the group stage demonstrated that any team could claim the title. However, he stressed that the true significance of the tournament lies in the reunion of Gulf football legends. Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mabrouk Zayed observed that the level of play has been steadily improving. He noted that Saudi Arabia's slow start was due to a short preparation period, but the team's performance against Yemen showed noticeable progress despite some mistakes. Zayed expressed gratitude to Kuwait for organizing the event, describing it as a symbolic recognition of the players' careers. He cherished the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues in a friendly atmosphere reminiscent of the sport's golden days. Yemeni football veteran Ali Al-Nono acknowledged the challenges of maintaining peak performance due to age, fitness, and limited preparation. However, he emphasized that the tournament's primary goal is to revive cherished memories and reunite Gulf football stars. He extended his gratitude to Kuwait for launching an initiative he hopes will continue in future editions. Veteran Kuwaiti goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Khalidi received widespread praise from critics and fans for his standout performances in the tournament's preliminary rounds. Al-Khalidi credited his strong form to rigorous training and dedication to maintaining his physical and mental sharpness. He expressed excitement about reliving his international career moments, particularly after playing in Kuwait's opening match against Oman. His performances have solidified his status as a key figure in the tournament. Kuwaiti footballer Walid Ali underscored the importance of such tournaments in keeping retired players engaged with the sport. He highlighted how the event encourages former players to maintain their health and fitness, which aligns with the core values of sportsmanship. Ali, known for scoring the decisive goal in Kuwait's Gulf 20 triumph over Saudi Arabia, praised the exceptional performances of goalkeepers, particularly his compatriot Nawaf Al-Khalidi. He affirmed that Al-Khalidi had become one of the standout figures in the competition. The Veterans Committee held a meeting on Sunday at the Gulf Union delegation headquarters, led by Hassan Al-Suwaidi, and all committee members attended. Discussions focused on the tournament's organization and the support required to ensure its success. During the meeting, Mohsen Musbah was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Committee, signaling a commitment to strengthening the tournament's structure and securing its future presence. The committee praised the positive reception of the event and underscored the importance of integrating it into the official Gulf Cup schedule. This move aims to foster continued engagement with former players and celebrate Gulf football heritage.
