American Soccer Coach Sari Rose

U.S. Embassy Doha was proud to host American soccer coach, Sari Rose, as the first Sports Envoy for 2012.  Ms. Rose is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and a coach at North Carolina Youth Soccer Association.  Ms. Rose started off her tour in Doha with a visit to Al Jazeera Academy, where she spoke with over fifty Qatari girls about life on and off the field and conducted a soccer clinic.

 “There are two things you can control in life,” said Ms. Rose to the group of girls, ages twelve to fifteen.  “Your effort and your attitude.” 

Ms. Rose believes sports like soccer are an integral part to building healthy and participatory societies.  Playing on athletic teams teaches youth the meaning of teamwork, leadership, and excellence.  Ms. Rose met on Sunday, January 29^th, with the leadership of the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee where they shared stories about the history of women's soccer in the United States and Qatar, and exchanged best practices in athlete development, leadership, and community participation.  Ms. Rose presented the Chairwoman of the Women’s Sport Committee, Ahlam Al Manai, with a personalized copy of The Man Watching, a biography of Anson Dorrance, a leader in women's soccer in the United States. 

Ms. Rose talked to the Women’s Sport Committee about the value of training athletes to think like a coach: "Now you have girls passionate enough to play and educated enough to coach."  Ms. Rose was impressed with all Qatar has achieved in women's soccer and she hopes to return to Doha for World Cup 2022.     

The Sports Envoy activities culminated in a much-anticipated friendship match between the Good Neighbor American Team and the Qatari Women’s National

Soccer Team at the Yarmouk school on Tuesday evening, January 31^st.  The Deputy Chief of Mission, Mirembe Nantongo helped open the match, reiterating that Ms. Rose’s visit is only the beginning of US Embassy efforts to promote sports cooperation in Qatar. 

U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, Susan L. Ziadeh, hosted a reception at her residence Thursday night, February 2^nd, to celebrate U.S. - Qatar sports collaboration, and to honor the Qatar Women’s National Soccer Team and the local sports community.

Ambassador Ziadeh said: “The Qatari Women’s National Team are pioneers in women’s sports in Qatar; their perseverance and determination on the field is an inspiration to all.  U.S. - Qatari teamwork in sports - quite literally, playing on the field together - builds upon the goodwill between our nations.  We at the Embassy are proud to host key Americans like Sari Rose who use sports to inspire teamwork and healthy living in their own community.   Likewise, we salute Qatar for your upcoming National Sports Day, demonstrating your commitment to community participation in sports.” 

Members of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Women’s Sport Committee, and the Good Neighbor American Team also attended the reception.

Sari Rose, American Sports Envoy in Doha, talking with officials from Al Arabi Sports Club	Sari Rose, American Sports Envoy in Doha, playing soccer with girls during her clinic at Al Jazeera Academy