Al Duhail Sports Club will hold the showpiece Workers’ Cup final between Nakheel Landscapes and Doha Pest Control today (kick-off 7:00pm).
Organised jointly by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the Qatar Stars League (QSL), the Workers’ Cup encourages companies involved in 2022 FIFA World Cup infrastructure projects to support leisure activities for their employees.
The sixth edition of the tournament has been the biggest to date, with 32 teams taking part, including 12 contractors working on 2022 FIFA World Cup projects and seven engaged with the SC’s Generation Amazing programme.
As today’s final approaches, the 2018 edition can boast another action-packed year which included 76 matches, 640 players and more than 10,000 fans. And on the eve of the final, the SC’s Communications Director, Fatma al-Nuaimi, said she was proud to witness the tournament’s continued expansion.
“Businesses and the wider football community have taken the Workers’ Cup to their hearts over the past five years, to the point where the event has become a key part of Qatar’s sporting calendar,” said al-Nuaimi.
“The passion for football and unifying nature of the sport are showcased during every game, not least the final, which promises to be an exciting match between two strong teams. I’m very much looking forward to Friday’s game and wish both sides the best of luck.”
Al-Nuaimi said the Workers’ Cup was helping to boost health and wellness among people engaged on 2022 FIFA World Cup projects.
“As well as harnessing Qatar’s passion for football, one of the key objectives of the tournament is to boost the players’ health, fitness and general well-being,” she said. “The 2018 edition, like all previous tournaments, has given a platform to those who wish to train regularly and encouraged others to adopt healthy lifestyles.”
The QSL’s Acting Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, said the Workers’ Cup had grown significantly since 2013 to become a major football event.
“The QSL is proud to support a tournament which uses the power of football to support positive social change in the country,” said al-Kuwari. “The Workers’ Cup continues to go from strength to strength and is now a much-anticipated annual event.”
Al-Kuwari continued: “We look forward to continuing our Workers’ Cup journey with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy as we support the delivery of the 2022 World Cup and its associated legacy projects.”
Defending champions Nakheel are favourites for the final, where they will be supported by more than 5,000 fans. Nakheel beat Alysj 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. 
Nakheel have been in imperious form throughout the tournament. They thrashed Bouygues 18-0 in their opening match before delivering two 9-0 victories in a row, against Al Khor Youth Club and NAAAS Group respectively. 
The going has been tougher for Nakheel in the knockout rounds though. Mowaselat were defeated on penalties in the last 16 after the match ended goal-less, before G4S were dispatched 4-0 in the quarter-finals.
For Doha Pest Control, meanwhile, it’s been a dream debut season in the competition. They opened up with a pair of 1-0 victories, over Besix and Galfar Al Misnad respectively, before rounding off the group stage with a 2-1 win against Larsen & Toubro.
In the knockout rounds, Doha Pest Control have shown their prowess from 12 yards by claiming three consecutive victories on penalties: against Trags Engineering, Spartan Ready Mix and Al Asmakh. The semi-final – against last year’s runners-up – went to sudden death before Doha Pest Control prevailed 8-7 in the dramatic shoot-out.
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