Iranian Persepolis Coach Praises Qatar 2022 World Cup Stadiums That Host AFC Champions League Competitions

Doha, September 20 (QNA) - Former Iran World Cup star and Persopolis coach Yahya Golmohammadi praised Qatar's hosting of the AFC Champions League 2020 football competitions for clubs in the west of the continent, expressing his admiration for the stadiums that host matches, which the State of Qatar has built as part of its preparations to organize the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 which will be held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world, and for the second time in Asia. Speaking at a pre-match press conference at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League this morning in Qatar, the coach of Iranian side Persepolis spoke first of his impressions of playing in stadiums earmarked for the FIFA World Cup when it comes to Qatar in 2022. "These world-class venues are not only a credit to Qatar, but to the whole Asian continent. I hope that these efforts are duplicated across the continent as a way to promote out the beautiful game," said Golmohammadi to attending reporters. Three of the four stadiums being used in the tournament are FIFA World Cup Stadiums. They are Education City Stadium, a venue that was inaugurated in June as a tribute to frontline healthcare workers, Al Janoub Stadium, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, and Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar's national stadium built in 1976 and recently renovated for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. All the stadiums used are equipped with cooling technology that aims to create an optimal playing environment during September, where the average temperature in Qatar is between 32 and 38 degrees Celsius. Temperature readings have shown a consistent temperature of 22 degrees during match time, which has included several day time kickoffs. Speaking on his experience at these venues, Golmohammedi said: "As a player and now coach, I have traveled far and wide, but I have never seen or experienced such wonderful football arenas with advanced technology. It goes without saying that building this type of infrastructure is not an easy task, but if the same meticulous approach taken in Qatar is replicated elsewhere in Asia, it can be done." Regarding the difficulty of facing Al Duhail, Golmohammadi considered that every match has its circumstances and that his team has the confidence and capabilities to qualify for the second round, despite facing Al Duhail, who is not only competing to qualify from the group but is competing to win the AFC Champions League title, as they have distinguished players and coach. Qatar volunteered to host the remaining matches of the western region of the AFC Champions League after all Asian footballing activities were suspended in March of this year as part of precautionary measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19. To ensure the safety of all participants, the Local Organizing Committee, headed by the Qatar Football Association, put in a series of procedures including strict quarantine measures, regular testing and has barred fans from entry to any of the matches thus far. Unlike the UEFA Champions League and Europa League which wrapped up their competitions in August in Portugal and Germany respectively, the AFC Champions League matches being played in Qatar are implementing a bubble to bubble methodology, where teams reside, train, and play within strict isolation, whereby anyone entering these venues must either be tested for COVID-19 or remain in quarantine until the end of the tournament. When asked about the return of Asia's premier club competition Golmohammedi said: "No country apart from Qatar showed the required commitment to safely host a tournament of this magnitude. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to every single one of those involved in bringing Asian club football back to us safely." Yahya Golmohammadi has 74 caps for the Iran national team at the senior level and has recently taken over the management of one of Iran's elite club sides Persepolis. In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he scored once against Mexico in the group stage, having scored a crucial goal in a decisive playoff to qualify for the tournament against the Republic of Ireland. (QNA)