Pablo Sarabia says Doha Bank Stars League on right path as competition continues to improve

LISBON:Spanish midfielder Pablo Sarabia believes the Doha Bank Stars League is continuing to develop and says sustained progress will be key to raising the standard of football in Qatar, according to comments made on the Portugal Football Summit Podcast.

The Al Arabi player praised the league’s steady growth in terms of player and coaching quality, saying the competition had evolved significantly and should continue building on that momentum.

“I think the league is constantly raising its level, in terms of the quality of the players and coaches,” Sarabia said. “Everything is moving in the right direction and improving all the time, and I think that’s the key to football in Qatar. We can’t stop, we have to keep working in the right direction. That’s why I’m very happy to be here and to be part of this project.”

The former Spain international said adapting to life in Qatar had been straightforward, crediting the support he received from the club and the welcoming environment.

“It was very easy to adapt because everyone is very welcoming and always tries to help us, whether it’s with training, the gym, or family life,” he said. “Everything was very easy from the moment I arrived. My family and I are very happy to be here.”

Sarabia also highlighted the contribution Spanish players and coaches can make to the league, saying their football culture and experience could support the competition’s continued development.

“The Spanish culture in football is at a very high level and we can help build very good things in the Doha Bank Stars League,” he said.

Looking ahead, Sarabia praised the efforts of the Qatar Football Association to strengthen the domestic game and national team, stressing that combining the experience of overseas professionals with the development of local players would be essential.

“The mix of those two things is the key to success in the next three, four, five or even 10 years in Qatari football,” he said.

Sarabia made the remarks in an interview for the Portugal Football Summit Podcast, produced by the Portuguese Football Federation ahead of the second Portugal Football Summit, which will be held from Sept. 23-25 in Oeiras.