Mubarak Mustafa: Fans at Khalifa Stadium carried Qatar to 1992 Gulf Cup win

On Friday, the redeveloped Khalifa International Stadium, the first completed stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, will resonate with the fans cheering on their teams during the 2017 Emir Cup final.

The mind of one among them, former Qatar and Al Arabi SC striker Mubarak Mustafa, will go back to December 1992, when the historic stadium was the venue for the first major international title claimed by 'Al Annabi' – the 1992 Gulf Cup of Nations.

Sebastião Lapola's side had bagged the first place in the 11^th edition of the tournament after finishing runners-up in the previous edition in Kuwait in 1990. For Mustafa, the taste of international victory was even sweeter because of the passionate crowd support received by the home team at the sold-out venue.

"Looking back to the 1992 Gulf Cup of Nations, one saw the true meaning of fan support," the 44-year-old told www.sc.qa. "The Qatari fans' attendance had made the tournament amazing. After our victory, the happiness in Qatar was overwhelming. It was our first Gulf Cup victory and it came at Khalifa International Stadium."

The tournament was a special one for the Qatari football legend, who had just broken into the national team that very year at the age of 19. Having played an important role in his country progressing to the quarter-final of the Barcelona Olympics earlier that year, including the headed winning goal in a 1-0 triumph over Egypt, Mustafa followed it up with an impressive showing in the Gulf Cup of Nations. In the tournament played in round-robin format, he helped Qatar edge Bahrain for the top spot.

"I will never forget how happy I was after winning the title," recalled Mustafa, an integral part of the Al Arabi side who had finished runners-up at the Asian Club Championships of 1994.

Mustafa is all praise for the QFA for looking after the current generation of national team players. "The best facilities are available at home to today's national team players – stadiums, pitches and all the support they need. I want to thank Qatar for providing everything a player could ask for."

"I will never forget how happy I was after winning the title," recalled Mustafa, an integral part of the Al Arabi side who had finished runners-up at the Asian Club Championships of 1994.

The man who grew up in Umm Ghuwailina, a stone's throw away from Al Arabi, says the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ has helped put Qatar firmly on the sporting map. "During our days, we used to go to Brazil and other countries to train," he said. "When we mentioned we were from Qatar they were confused as they had not heard about the country. Today when you mention you are from Qatar they immediately start talking about 2022. Everyone knows Qatar now and as athletes this makes us proud."