Qatar OFWs enjoy FIFA's festive mood, PH exclusion bit of damper

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates —For a host of reasons ranging from being part of this historic sporting event, to watching the games and anticipating opportunities ahead, Filipinos in neighboring Qatar which is hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022, couldn’t be happier the football matches are being held in this oil-rich Gulf country.

The air is festive, said Ressie S. Fos, prominent Filipino community leader, who also is current adviser of an OFW group HERO Qatar that has a Facebook membership of over 90,000.

“Obviously, these days ay different sa ibang ordinary days before the FIFA World Cup. Maraming tao, especially in public places  such as malls, parks, boulevards and in public transports like the metro, lalo na during the few hours before and after the matches,” Fos tells GMA News Online.

Approximately 1.5 million people are expected to travel to Qatar for FIFA World Cup 2022, which kicked off on Nov. 20 and will run till Dec. 18.

“Generally, it’s festive, ‘ika nga ng marami, ‘FIFA-fever,’ where everywhere, what you see all around ay FIFA branding, including sa mga people – fans, local residents or tourists,” Fos said.

(These are no ordinary pre-FIFA days. There are lots of people especially in malls, parks, boulevards and in public transports like the metro especially a few hours before and after the matches. Generally, it’s festive. As they say, ‘FIFA-fever’ where you see the FIFA brand everywhere.)

Filipinos

Filipinos just could not miss the action. They are all over the place – from being part of the workforce, to doing volunteer jobs, watching fan activities and festivals, even inside stadiums watching the games and cheering on for their favorite teams, said Fos.

“Nagkataon lang na hindi nakasama ang Philippine team. Kung sakali, baka mas malakas yung makikita nating suporta ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” Fos, planning and project controls manager at a project management company, said.

(Sadly, the Philippine national team did not qualify. Otherwise, we’ll see a much bigger support from OFWs.)

The Philippines’ Azkals, which was grouped together with the Maldives, Guam, China and the formidable Syria, did not make it to the qualifying rounds.

Fos, who also used to head a Qatar-wide OFW group, said the World Cup is a “different level of experience for Filipinos” in the country.

“Andun yung excitement na manood hindi lang ng matches, kundi maging ng mga fan festivals and activities. Marami ring mga OFWs ang talagang bumili ng tiket para manood. May kanya-kanyang team din silang sinusuportahan.

“Higit sa lahat, yung maging bahagi mismo ng event na ito, like maging kasama sa FIFA workforce at volunteer programs. Number one ang Pinoy dyan eh, mag-volunteer to serve the host country, Qatar, na tinuturing naming second home,” he said.

(The excitement of watching the games, fan festivals and activities is there. Many OFWs actually bought tickets. There are teams that they have thrown their support for. Most of all, there is a feeling of pride, being a part of the FIFA workforce and volunteer programs. Filipinos are number one when it comes to this, volunteering to serve the host country, Qatar that we look to as our second home.)

Defeat

Fos said many Filipinos were saddened, too, when Qatar was knocked out the tournament after two losses in the group games – Senegal, 3-1; and Ecuador, 2-0 –  in what has been described by international media as an “embarrassing” defeat, noting it was the first time a host country lost after the opening two games.

“Oo naman nakakalungkot. Mas masaya sana kung nanalo ang Qatar. Pero ganun talaga sa sports, may panalo, may talo,” he said.

(Yes, it’s sad. Would have been better had Qatar won its first game. But that’s how it is in sports – either you win or lose.) 

Qatar is in Group A along with Ecuador, Senegal and The Netherlands.

Qatar will still have to face The Netherlands. But winning that match would not matter for Qatar because the team would only rank third. Only the winner and runner-up in each group can qualify for the next stages of the competition leading to an overall World Cup 2022 winner.

Opportunities

In the meantime, Fos said, Filipinos are looking forward to opportunities resulting from the games.

“Job generation and opportunities ang pangunahing benefits nitong FIFA World Cup talaga. Before the event, nandyan yung kaliwa’t kanang construction, and after the event, andyan pa rin ang maintenance and operations ng mga stadium and other permanent facilities.

“Secondly, nakikita ko na dahil sa magandang experience sa FIFA, patuloy na mas magiging proactive ang Qatar sa mga malalaking sporting events tulad ng Olympics, ASEAN Games, at iba pa,” said Fos.

(Job generation and opportunities are the main advantages of hosting the FIFA World Cup. There were numerous pre-event construction projects and after, we see jobs in maintenance and operations of the stadiums and other facilities. Secondly, Qatar may opt to continue being pro-active in hosting other major sporting events like the Olympics and ASEAN Games among others due to the success of holding FIFA World Cup here.)

Human rights

The FIFA World Cup 2022 has been dogged by issues of human rights violations, including the unexplained deaths of thousands of migrant workers during the construction of the stadiums, and LGBT concerns.

Fos said advocates are taking advantage of the event.

“Obviously, ginagamit ng mga ibang grupo ang stage ng FIFA para sa kanilang adbokasiya. Bagay na hindi naman dapat gawin,” he said.

(Obviously, some groups are taking advantage of the FIFA event for their advocacies, which is unseemly.)

It is the first time that the FIFA World Cup was held in the Gulf.

There are approximately 235,000 OFWs in Qatar, according to Fos. —LBG, GMA Integrated News