These days, of course, there is a lot of talk about Qatar, life and culture in the Emirate. And ex-professionals are also speaking out. Those who once played in the Emirate.
Euzebiusz “Ebi” Smolarek will still be familiar to Borussia Dortmund fans.
The 47-time Polish international and participant in the 2006 World Cup and 2008 European Championship was once under contract with Feyenoord Rotterdam, BVB and the Qatari club Al-Khor SC.
In summer 2011, the former Dortmund fan favourite signed a two-year contract in Qatar. But in January 2012 he was gone again. He left Al-Khor for ADO Den Haag.
“I didn’t feel comfortable there. And there were at least half a dozen reasons for that. I’ll never forget when I got off the plane in Qatar and thought the air could never be that hot. The heat must still be coming from the plane’s engine,” the now 41-year-old Smolarek recalls to the Polish portal “www.sportowefakty.wp.pl”.
Smolarek continues: “But I had to realise that this was the Qatari climate. It felt like someone was airing you with a hairdryer in front of your face. I only walked a few metres and my shirt was soaking wet. “
But that was not the only reason why the striker only played six matches (one goal) for Al-Khor SC. Yet Smolarek had originally signed a two-year contract.
“In addition, my wife felt uncomfortable there. Of course, it is simply different from Europe in many aspects. My wife is a total supporter of equal rights. She always says, ‘If you are allowed to do something, why can’t I?’ So there was trouble with the police right at the beginning. She was dressed in a bikini on the beach, immediately the police came and admonished her: either she covers her body with clothes or pays a fine of 100 dollars,” says the Pole, who grew up in the Netherlands.
I understand that there is a different culture, a different way of thinking. But it was not for us, so we left Qatar quickly. Even though I have to say that the people in the club were very nice, very polite towards us and me.
Ebi Smolarek
He then moved from Qatar to Holland to The Hague in January 2012. ADO paid one million euros for Smolarek.
Smolarek: “We quickly moved to the Four Seasons Hotel and were able to use the private beach there for a daily entrance fee of 50 dollars. Then it was more relaxed as far as the bikini was concerned. But I still remember an incident when my wife was on a boat with her sister and they passed a local woman. Immediately they were booed and it was made clear to them that they were not dressed appropriately. I understand that there is a different culture, a different way of thinking. But it was not for us, so we left Qatar quickly. Even though I have to say that the people at the club were very nice, very polite towards us and me.”
On Wednesday, Poland will start the tournament with superstar Robert Lewandowski. Smolarek’s assessment of his compatriots’ World Cup chances? “It’s clear that the opening match will be a key game. You can say that it will decide right away whether Poland will advance or not. It’s a fifty-fifty match. Or not: at the end of the day, we have Robert Lewandowski and not Mexico. So I put the chances of victory at 60-40 for us,” the former Dortmund player replied.