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Ikoli Victor
Doha
Soccer star Xavi Hernandez says he's proud to be an ambassador for Generation Amazing, the flagship CSR programme of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.
Through football for development workshops and visits to different Generation Amazing projects in Qatar and the Middle East, Xavi has worked with schoolchildren, refugees and migrant workers to use the power of football to inspire social change within communities.
While speaking at the Soccrex Asia Forum in Doha on Monday, the former Barcelona and now Al Sadd player said,"I didn't come to Qatar to play football alone but also to transfer knowledge. It's an interesting project to share and inkeeping with my own personality and the role as an ambassador.
"I feel blessed to be here and am trying to pay back in small portions not only through football. Recently I was in Jordan for this project. I met so many people. It gives me a source of happiness and I want to thank Hassan al Thawadi and Nasser al Khater.
"For me it is a matter of pride that people remember me as a player who played for Barcelona though I am not as popular as the present players.
"We want Generation Amazing to be feasible and practicable in other parts of the world," he added.
About the talent pool in Qatar and Akram Afif, who plays with Villarreal in Spain, Xavi said,"Aspire Academy is an exceptional centre of development for players. It has state-of-the-art infrastructure that you would not find in any other part of the world. I'm proud to be part of Aspire. We are working very hard to develop players. There are so many different efforts because they want to see things happen in their own country. The object is to give youth the opportunity to change the compass and direction of football.
"Qatar's Akram has the potential to succeed. He's a very calm player and has strong personality. He has paved way for other Qatari players who are not far from playing Europe."
About his club Al Sadd, which sits second in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) currently, Xavi said the new season is competitive. He also praised the standard of QSL.
"There is a good deal of competition and it is fierce between the top sides. El Jaish leads the table and we are second behind them."
"We have a good coach and he is idealistic while dealing with different players. The ambiance in the club is good and the players need time to achieve tactical balance."
Xavi said when he came to Qatar he was not disappointed at the standard of the league because it was almost like Europe.
"In the past the league was not so competitive but because of the World Cup it is necessary that the league raises its level so as to provide a base for the national teams.
Speaking about his former club, Xavi said coaches for Barcelona FC should be players who have donned the club's jerseys in time past.
"Barcelona should have a clear idea as regards the future of the club. I hope they look up to former players who have done a great deal for the club to manage the club."
