The countdown to 2021-2022 QNB Stars League has begun even as the clubs are eagerly continuing their preparations for the season’s competitions after returning from their overseas camps, where they sought to achieve maximum technical and physical benefits for the players.

Against this backdrop, we are highlighting the pre-season preparations made by each of the 12 teams.

QATAR SC

Qatar SC hope to finish in the top four this season and are working strongly during the season. The Kings have made serious preparations in order to achieve their ambitions.

Qatar SC had achieved some good results last season, having displayed strong levels, and competed for the top-four bracket only to miss out on it narrowly and ended up sixth with 32 points.

Qatar SC may even aspire to regain the league title, which they last won in the 2002-2003 season, and would seek to make a turnaround in their fortunes.

New Brazilian coach

Qatari coach Younes Ali was rumoured to continue following his impressive performance last season, but the team management decided to sign a new coach, Brazilian Ze Ricardo, for the next two seasons.

Ze Ricardo is considered as an eminent coach, having previously trained a number of Brazilian clubs, namely Internacional, Botafogo, Vasco da Gama, Fortaleza and Flamengo.

Special local deals

The team did not make many deals at the level of Qatari professionals even though they welcomed back their former top scorer Sebastian Soria along with Hossam Kamal from Al Arabi besides signing Baha Ellethi and Ahmed Moein from Al Wakrah. And they renewed the contract with outstanding goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail.

Two big deals

Although Qatar SC retained three of their foreign professionals, namely Youcef Belaili (Algeria), Anthony Okpotu (Nigeria) and Bashar Resan (Iraq), they made two noticeable deals this season – Spaniard Javi Martinez from Bayern Munich and Algerian Djamel Belamri.

Serbia camp

Qatar SC had their overseas camp in Serbia from 31st July to 19th August in preparation for the new season.

The team played three friendly matches in order to reach maximum readiness, against the Oman national team, Al Qadsiah of Saudi Arabia and Serbian club FK Radnicki.

They had started the pre-season training on 17th July.

Campaign start

Qatar SC will start their league campaign against Al Ahli. The real test awaits them in Week 2 when they run into champions Al Sadd. They will then play Al Arabi and Al Gharafa in that order in the first four rounds.