CHANGZHOU: Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo says the national Olympic squad is showing signs of quick development under the guidance of coach Felix Sanchez.
The Spaniard has nurtured most of the players who form the Olympic squad currently preparing for their quarter-finals clash at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
On Monday, Qatar rallied for a 2-1 win against hosts China in a Group C match. The result saw Qatar storm into the quarter-finals of the 16-team tournament. Qatar remained unbeaten in three matches posting wins against Uzbekistan and Oman on the way.
At the last event held in 2016, Sanchez’s boys finished fourth after easily reaching the semi-finals where they lost to South Korea.
A number of the playing XI also featured at the Gulf Cup held in Kuwait earlier this month.
Madibo, who got injured at the Gulf Cup, said: “Our team is developing significantly from match to match. There is improvement thanks to the efforts of technical staff headed by Felix Sanchez. The coach helps us prepare and puts us on the pitch in the best possible shape.”
He added: “Our team has presented a great level of football here. We have faced strong teams but we fought well because we were better prepared. Even when we conceded goals, we fought back well.”
Madibo said the team was moving in the right direction.
“The result (on Monday against China) was because of so much work done by everybody. The technical staff and administration has put in great efforts over the last few days,” Madibo said.
“I hope we continue to get these victories, especially in the next game so that we reach the semi-finals,” he added.
Fellow midfielder and captain Ahmad Moein said: “We have reached our first target and that was to reach the quarter-finals. The players have given their best. The game against China was the toughest so far but we hung in there.”
He added: “We need to continue with our hard work.”
Moein said Group A rivals Uzbekistan, Oman and China presented different challenges.
“Every game was different and now we have finished stage one at the top of the group,” Moein said.
“Now we look to the next stage and it will be tougher. That is because we are in the knockout stage of the tournament. The top eight teams are in the quarter-finals,” he added.
“I am confident that my team will match their fight they exhibited against China,” Moein, who played a stellar role in Qatar winning the 2014 U-19 Asian Cup, said.
The 16-team tournament ends on January 27.
