■ Six Star players of the first team in Al Sadd Sports Club connect with the community residing in Qatar through the "Match for Humanity".

■ Al-Rumaihi: "We hope this initiative will create a sport friendly environment integrating residents in Qatar with the local community and enable them in blending with various local sporting events. Al Sadd’s house is open to all citizens and residents”.

■ Al-Maliki: "The Initiative of Al Sadd’s club and their players reflects and highlights different aspects of the role of sports and athletes in the community”

■ Wesam Rizik, "“The spirit of belonging is the foundation for success on any team, especially in football. With this same principle we seek to strengthen the residents of Qatar by means of this event”.

Doha, Qatar – February 13^th, 2012: Coinciding with the celebration of ‘National Sports Day’ via Al Sadd Sports Club in co-operation with the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking emerged an event entitled “Match for Humanity”; a football match held between Al Sadd’s star players (Wesam Rizik, Abdulla Kone, Natheer Belhadj, Lee Young,Mesaad Alhamad, and  Talal Al Bloushi ) and a number of residents in Qatar. Communication, social integration, and the application of Al Sadd Sports Club CSR initiatives was the framework of this respectable event.

The core purpose for Al Sadd was the advocacy of communal efforts through a noble cause, thus the match was organized in collaboration with the ‘Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking ’. The objective was two-fold: benefitting the community through the universal tool of sport, and enjoying an exciting match that included some of Qatar’s finest players’ who served as leaders in creating a ‘one family feel’ within the community.

The “Match for Humanity” was held at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The audience consisted of residents and their families, the staff of Al Sadd Sports Club, a number of officials from Qatar Foundation for Combatting Human Trafficking as well as various media outlets, such as Print Media and Al Kass TV.

Through the establishment of such initiative Al Sadd Sports Club aimed to create harmony within all segments of society through the optimal use based on popularity of the sport. From their efforts the Club’s players offered their time and expertise achieving their target in successfully creating a sport friendly environment, all the while smoothly and effectively integrating the use of sports within society. Thus, proving that through the utilization of sports, one can be successful in creating communication within the community.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Jassim Al Rumaihi, the General Secretary of Al Sadd Sports Club said, “This game marks an initiative of the Club’s social responsibility program synchronized with the celebration of National Sports Day through-out the country. It is our pleasure to share this day by the inclusion of residents within the match. We hope this initiative will create a sport friendly environment integrating residents in Qatar with the local community and enable them in blending with various local sporting events. Al Sadd’s house is open to all citizens and residents”.

Mrs. Maryam Al-Maliki, General Director of Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking   expressed her appreciation for the event when she said, “We extend our thanks to Al Sadd Sports Club and their players for leading such an admirable endeavor . The initiative of Al Sadd’s Club and their players reflects and highlights different aspects of the role of sports and athletes in the community, especially since the sides of social and sports are two sides of the same coin. Both sides equally contribute to social integration. No doubt that this category is our partners in the development process, and integrating them in sports events will contribute to increased their efficiency toward the same goals.”

The first CSR ambassador of a professional club in the Gulf and a player whom participated in the “Match for Humanity”, Wesam Rizik had some motivational words to share; “The spirit of belonging is the foundation for success on any team, especially in football. With this same principle we seek to strengthen the residents of Qatar by means of this event. With my participation and that of my colleagues, today we deliver the vision of Al Sadd Sports Club and the responsibility of its role within society”, he proudly said.

When the match concluded the two parties exchanged trophies in memorial of this occasion.

A noteworthy point - Al Sadd Sports Club is the first professional club in the Arab Gulf region  having adopted a social responsibility program in accordance with a systematic strategy titled ‘180 Degree Change’.