Cameroonians In Qatar : Bonding Through Sports

Fridays are like Sundays in Qatar, same for predominantly Muslim communities. Most offices, shops and businesses closed for the most parts of the day as faithful go to the Mosques for prayers. However, for the Cameroonian community resident in Doha, it is a day to come together, fraternise and solidify their bond. So, as early as 8am, they gather at the sports complex of the Cambridge Primary School, in the Nuaija area in Doha. On the menu that morning are two football matches, first the veterans have a 45-minute game then the others made of what they call the “Club deux zero” gets on for the second game.
On the other side of the complex, girls, women and children are also involved in some physical exercises which ends up with a five-a-side football game. While the games are going on, those cheer leaders and those on the side-lines take advantage to discuss about life during the World Cup. “It is a pleasure and dream come true for us to be in Qatar at this moment. It is a great fulfilment for me particularly because I worked on several World Cup projects here in Qatar,” one of the Cameroonians in the gather, Evelyne said. Like her, many Cameroonians resident in Qatar contributed to the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in one way or the other. &...