Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) concluded Koora Time activities that were conducted for the benefit of Afghan refugees in Doha, in cooperation with Qatar Shell. The six-week programme was held as part of the Koora Time initiative, and aimed to create a new environment of football participation, awith a tangible psychological impact on the participants and their families.

The closing events were attended by Abdulrahman Al-Abduljabbar, Social Media Officer in the QFA’s Marketing and Communications Department, and Jaber Al-Mansour, Qatar Shell’s social investment advisor.

The activities, which were held at the residence of the Afghan refugees, varied between football matches and recreational games, along with skill drills and additional football-related games and exercises, which make up the Koora Time programme.

Set up with the general aim of improving health and safety of youth and children in Qatar through football, the Koora Time initiative supports the pillar of social development in the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is also in line with the goal of organising such events for Afghan refugees.

On this occasion, Khaled Mubarak Al-Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications Department of the Qatar Football Association, said: “The events organised for Afghan refugees achieved their goals by creating an environment that encouraged people to participate in football, along with a clear impact on the participants and their families.”

Organised through the cooperation between the QFA and Qatar Shell, the leading sponsor of the QFA, the Koora Time events for Afghan refugees witnessed the participation of an average 100 participants residing in a residential complex. All the necessary support was provided to facilitate entry and permits for trainers, in addition to providing the equipment needed to conduct training sessions over a period of six weeks.

Al-Kuwari added: “The organisation of this special programme for a period of 6 weeks provided an opportunity to review and configure a new mixture of training units to achieve the greatest positive impact from this initiative. The focus in these six weeks was on many important healthy habits and skills, such as healthy eating patterns, FC Barcelona’s healthy methods and habits, FC Barcelona’s ambition and loyalty training, and FC Barcelona’s skills training, in addition to Aspire Academy as an ideal practical model.”