The Qatar Stars League Foundation, the clubs, their technical staff, and the fans’ associations have raised the level of preparations for the launch of the Ooredoo Stars League 2025 in 7 days from now, specifically next Friday, when the first round matches will start, amidst great enthusiasm and ambitions to achieve a good and positive start in order to reach the desired goals.
The clubs announced the countdown to their preparations after most of them returned from their European camps to Doha, and the focus began on putting the final touches on all aspects of technical preparations, tactical preparations, and also preparations at the level of Qatari and foreign professionals, as a number of teams completed the contracts of their professionals, especially foreigners, and others are still racing against time to complete their deals. In the following lines, Al Arab sheds light on the final preparations before the start of the Ooredoo Stars League 2025, which everyone dreams of being at the desired level, especially since it has become the only opportunity to prepare our national team for the big dream and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will start next September 5.
The leader
The title holder, Al-Zaeem, will play its last friendly match against the Egyptian Ismaili on the 5th of this month at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. It is a good, strong and important experience, especially for its new Spanish coach, Felix Sanchez, who took over the task a few days ago in the team’s camp in Malaga, and seeks to quickly put his mark.
The leader played several friendly matches in Malaga, the last of which was a 1-1 draw with the Spanish team Almeria. He also won the second friendly match 3-2 against the South African team Orlando Pirates, before drawing the third match 0-0 against the Spanish team Las Palmas. He also won the first friendly match against the Manchester 62 team from Gibraltar by eight clean goals.
The Terrible
The runner-up Al-Rahib completed its preparations in its Dutch camp, which included several friendly matches, where it achieved a 1-0 victory over the Dutch team, FC Eindhoven, and lost to the Dutch team, Utrecht, with a score of 1-4, and to the Saudi Al-Qadisiyah, with a score of 0-2, as well as to the Dutch team, Venlo, with a score of 1-3, and in the latter it won against the Emirati Al-Wasl, 3-1. The team’s professional contract was completed with the arrival of the Belgian, Julien De Sart, to Doha and his official contract.
Leopards
Al Gharafa lost its last experience in its Slovakian camp by one goal against Apollon Limassol, and the first team lost to Sharjah of the Emirates by two goals to three and Zvolen of Slovakia, one of the second division clubs in Slovakia, by one goal to two. In its first friendly match in Doha, Al Gharafa defeated Umm Salal 3-0, and the Panthers strengthened their ranks with the great Spanish star Joselu, who contributed to his country’s victory in the Euro 2024 Championship.
Blue Wave
Al-Wakra held a European camp in Spain, which included playing several friendly matches, in which it lost to Castellon 0-2 and tied with Al-Jazira of the Emirates 2-2.
Al-Wakra is considered one of the teams that renewed the ranks of its Qatari professionals with the addition of Abdul Karim Hassan and Tamim Al-Muhaiza and the renewal of Lucas Mendes’ contract, in addition to contracting with Ricardo Gomes (Cape Verde), Alexander Scholz (Danish), and Issa Al-Aidouni (Tunisian).
Dream Team
There will not be many changes to Al Arabi’s professionals except for the big deal of contracting with Luis Martin, the former captain of Al Duhail. The team held a camp in Austria that was characterised by strong friendly matches, where it lost to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia by two goals to none, and also lost to Porto of Portugal by four goals to none, and won against the Hungarian team Kecskemetti TE by one goal.
The Flood
Al Duhail prepared in its Austrian camp, which included some strong matches, the last of which was a 1-2 loss to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. It also defeated Kalba of the UAE 2-1 with two goals, tied with Sturm Graz of Austria with two goals, and defeated the Hungarian team Ksiksz Yrda 3-1.
Barzan Falcons
In his Dutch camp, Umm Salal defeated Al Shamal 2-0. He also played several friendly matches, including a friendly match with Al Shamal, which the Falcons won by one goal, in addition to his first friendly match, which he lost to Al Gharafa in Doha 0-3.
the king
Qatar ended its Spanish camp with a goalless draw against Al-Wahda of Saudi Arabia. Al-Malik also achieved victory over Costa City by three goals to one, and achieved victory over Costa City by three goals to one, and lost to Levante B, by two goals to none, and also lost to Alcoyano CD.
North
Al Shamal prepared in a camp held in the Dutch city of Tiel, which included several friendly matches, where it lost 1-0 to the Dutch team Dordrecht, and 1-0 to the Dutch team Volendam. Al Shamal won 1-0 against Umm Salal, and its last match was against Al Ahli.
The Dean
Al-Ahly played several matches in its external camp in the Dutch city of Eindhoven, in which it lost to the Belgian team Lommel United by one goal, won two goals to one against the PSV Eindhoven U23 team, and then tied with the Emirati Al-Wasl by one goal.
Knights
The Knights of Al Khor, who returned to the Stars League, prepared in a Turkish camp and played good friendly matches, the most important of which was a draw with Al-Faisaly of Saudi Arabia, and a victory over the reserve team of Sparta Spor of Turkey by seven goals, and over the Turkish team Antalyaspor 2-1, before a 1-1 draw against the Turkish team Boca Spor, and also a 2-2 draw in the fourth friendly against the Jordanian national team for local players.
Al Shahaniya
Al Shahaniya team ended its external camp in the Turkish city of Izmit with a goalless draw against the Emirati team Dibba Al-Hisn. Al Shahaniya had played two friendly matches before this last encounter, where it faced the Ghanaian team JKA Academy and won 3-2, before losing the second friendly match 5-2 to the South African team Kaizer Chiefs.