Doha, September 28 (QNA) - Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure said he was looking forward to a ground-breaking edition of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as the first tournament to be staged in the Middle East and Arab world.
Toure said in press statements that the championship will be really important and special because its going to be the first time that an Arab and Islamic country will host this important competition. For Qatar to be the first Muslim nation to host the World Cup is brilliant, and for all players of Islamic faith, it will be more than an honor to be a part of this, he said.
He said he was impressed with the way Qatar has prepared and how ready they are to host fans from around the world. Having had conversations with the organizers, the ease with which people will be able to get around is another reason why I think this World Cup will be special.
Commenting on the timing of the championship, the four-time African Footballer of the Year said it means that the top European leagues and clubs will be taking a break from their seasons. Its going to be unusual in the sense that players are going to be fit and not fatigued from playing a long season with their clubs. In that way, I think its going to be historic. I cant wait to see how it all unfolds, he said.
The FIFA World Cup Ambassador added that he believes that short distances between hotels, training bases and stadiums will be amazing for players. When I played at the World Cup in Brazil, there were two or three-hour flights between matches but it wont be like that in Qatar. For me, its going to be one of the best World Cups because youll see all the stars playing in one place, he stressed.
Asked about his expectations for the performance of the African teams that qualified for the tournament, he said that Senegal are a good team and could do well in this World Cup. He added that they will be full of confidence after winning the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. I also think Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia will perform well; The qualifying play-offs showed how many great teams we have in Africa; We hope now that African teams can reach new heights at the World Cup, he added.
Toure stressed that football is very important for peoples as it takes us away from the stress of daily life, brings people together and reflects the diversity of so many cultures. (QNA)