Saad Al-Suwaidi
Marcelo Tavares is one of the most prominent defenders who have come to the Qatari football in the past years, where his name appeared throughout several clubs in Qatar. Tavares began his career in Qatar in 2008 with Qatari powerhouse Al Rayyan Sports Club, he was apart of the 2010 championship team that defeated Umm Salal SC 1-0 in the finals. He then went on to play for Al Shabab Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from 2010-2012, before coming back to Doha to join with Al Duhail on a 1-year contract. He ended his career in Qatar with Al Sailiya Sports Club in 2013.
We conducted a Q&A session with Tavares, who remains one of the top defenders to play in Qatar, to see his life after football and how he is still involved with the sports today.
Q: What is Marcelo Tavares up to nowadays?
A: First of all, hello to everyone in Qatar, I’m very glad I get to speak with the people that have a place in my heart. Nowadays, I am working as an intermediary, sending players and coaches to places. Not as an agent, I don’t have an agency, but I am helping agents to find very good players. I currently helped two players to end up in Doha, one of the players is Al-Khor’s Wágner Ferreira dos Santos, who helped Al Khor A lot in 2018. This season I managed to suggest Kayke Rodrigues to Qatar Sports Club, and to me one of the top players in Qatar today.
Q: What do you think of Qatar’s football evolution over the past years?
A: I still follow Qatari football. I can see Qatar’s national team progressed a lot, They are working really well on the field. I saw them play here in Brazil in last year’s Copa America, and I saw an organized team. I think the greatest evolution is this current national team, with the success of winning the Asian Cup and facing a lot of top tier teams, I believe Qatar is very well on track to being a top contender.
Q: You played in Al Rayyan, Al Duhail and Al Sailiya. Tell us about your experience with these clubs and which was the best?
A: I was with Lekhwiya, before it became Al Duhail, I was with them for a short period but it was a good experience. We managed to win 10 out of 11 games when I was with them, and it was nice to be apart of a good team. Al Sailiya was a smaller club, but very organized and a team I respect. I had some complications with the team, however, I look back at my time with them and I think of the good moments and by far the season I was with them was the best which makes me proud to have delivered for them. My best experience was with Al Rayyan. It is a team that I still watch and support, and I’m always happy when I see the team winning. From what I see this season it looks promising, and hopefully, they will be able to collect a title. It was an amazing experience capturing the 2010 Amir Cup, under the leadership of sheikh Saoud and His highness Sheikh Abdullah, it will be a time I will never forget.
Q: Can you compare the league today to how it was when you played?
A: It's hard to compare because the league was different. Back then you had more foreign players on teams, and it was hard enough to play already. Nowadays, there are more locals players on teams, and with players coming out of aspire academy and such, Qatar really raised the level of football in the country. There are a lot of teams that are really strong and that are tough competitors on the field.
Q: Can you compare Al Rayyan’s Manager now Diego Aguirre to Paolo Atori?
A: It's very complicated to judge because I never worked with Aguirre, but what I can say is that people like him a lot in football and I personally like his style and his approach. For Paolo, he was an amazing leader. He’s a guy that really knows how to manage people, which I believe is one of the greatest characteristics of a coach which resulted in hi having an amazing career. I learned a lot under his leadership, I learned how to be more humble and caring for the people around me.
Q: What do you think of the latest accomplishments of the Qatar national team?
A: I can see they deserve what they have accomplished because they are working really well on the field, and they have a lot of talented players. Many of the players they have such as Akram Afif have the caliber to play outside of Qatar. Many players who play outside of their homes are very successful in developing their game, it is just a matter of adaptation.
Q: Who is the closest to the QNB Stars League?
A: In my opinion, it is Al Duhail, but it is hard to say. Football is a very nice sport because you never know what can happen, sometimes teams can do well and sometimes team can drop their level, we can see this with many examples in football. I support Al Rayyan to be champion, but Al Duhail look like a really well-built team and it will be hard to take it from them.
Q: Who is the best coach in Qatar so far?
A: In my books, it would have to be Rui Faria. I like his style and his approach to the game. He’s not there anymore but he was my favorite.
Q: Who is the best player in Qatar?
A: Akram Afif. To me, he's a very complete player. I was watching the Amir Cup last season and I was impressed by the way he moves and using his strengths to his advantage, that why he won the AFC Player of the year in 2019.
Q: What do you think of Xavi as a coach? Do you think his transition was too fast?
A: I can’t judge his coaching career because just started. I can say he was an amazing player and a great leader, and his character can be very successful as a coach. To Transition is always tough to judge, maybe it was not the time, but he’s learning fast and he is on his way to being a good coach and I wish him all the best.
Q: Can we see you as a distinguished coach in the future?
A: I hope so. Life took me in another direction but I’m still close to football, and I am trying to learn more about it with every experience. I hope one day I can be a successful coach hopefully in Qatar and anywhere else I decide to work.
Q: How do you see Qatar preparations on its way leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2022?
A: For sure they will be ready, I can’t judge other countries but I can judge my country. There were a lot of complications to the final minute of the opening ceremony in Brazil, but they managed to deliver a good world cup. If you think about Doha, Qatar is working really hard to deliver an amazing World Cup, I support them and I am confident that Qatar will exceed expectations.
Q: COVID-19 has shaken up the world right now, how has it impacted the world of football?
A: What’s hard about this situation is that no one knows what is their next step, not only in football but in every aspect of life. I believe the long break in football will have a negative impact on clubs but we need to take every precautionary measures. Clubs have to think of how to come back, whenever that will be, and to ensure safety amongst their player and staff to deliver good football. I just hope that the world can get over this crisis because football brings happiness to a lot of people.
The interview was conducted by prominent media figure Lucy Tavares.