Doha: The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has formally announced the appointment of Turkish coach Hakan Demir, aged 56, to lead the Qatari national team, taking over from Greek coach Thanasis Skortopoulos. This announcement was made during a press conference held on Sunday afternoon at the Federation’s headquarters in Al Gharafa.
The event was attended by Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation, Coach Hakan Demir, and Dr. Khalid Al Qahtani, Chairman of the Federation’s Media Committee, along with various representatives from local media and social media platforms.
Al Kuwari commenced the conference by extending a warm welcome to all attendees and expressed his strong confidence in the newly appointed Turkish coach. He highlighted Demir’s impressive credentials, which include his previous role as head coach of the Iranian national team, as well as his tenure as an assistant coach for the Turkish U-19 national team from 1998 to 2005. Additionally, he served as an assistant coach for the Turkish national team for three years and led the Iranian national team in the 2023 FIBA World Championship, the 2023 Asian Cup, and the qualifiers for the 2025 Asian Cup. Demir’s extensive coaching experience across various clubs in the Turkish League, European League, and European Cup tournaments positions him as a formidable candidate to guide the Qatari national team towards success in forthcoming competitions.
In his address, the QBF Secretary-General affirmed that the Qatari national team is currently engaged in preparations for the second phase of the qualifiers for the 2025 Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia. He noted that the Qatari team is placed in Group Five, competing against Iran, Kazakhstan, and India. An essential match against the Indian team is set for November 21 in India, followed by a home game against the Iranian team in Doha on November 25 at Al Gharafa Hall.
Al Kuwari emphasized that the Qatari team possesses a strong opportunity to qualify for the Asian Cup finals, attributing this potential to the anticipated performance of the coaching staff led by Demir, as well as the federation’s confidence in the players.
Turkish coach Hakan Demir, for his part, expressed his enthusiasm for assuming the role of head coach for the Qatari team and highlighted his ambition to achieve favorable outcomes. He mentioned his familiarity with several players on the Qatari team, having previously faced them while coaching the Iranian team.
Demir elaborated on his observations from the Qatar Cup final between Al Arabi and Al Ahli, which provided him with insights into the capabilities of local players. He also disclosed the team’s upcoming schedule, which includes participation in the King Abdullah II Cup Championship in Jordan from November 16 to 18, featuring teams from Qatar, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. He indicated that the team’s departure for the Jordanian capital, Amman, is planned for November 15, after which they will proceed to India for the second phase of the Asian qualifiers.
The coach noted that the Qatari team will encounter difficulties due to the injury of Abdulrahman Saad, a key player from Al Arabi. Nevertheless, Demir conveyed his confidence in the potential of the younger athletes on the team, emphasizing his commitment to their technical and physical development through participation in the Jordan Championship and the forthcoming qualifying matches.
In concluding his remarks at the press conference, Demir expressed gratitude to the Board of Directors of the Qatar Basketball Federation for their trust in him, and he conveyed his eagerness to guide the Qatari team in the Asian qualifiers. He also commended Qatar for being awarded the privilege of hosting the 2027 Basketball World Cup, marking the first time this event will take place in the Middle East and North Africa. He reiterated his anticipation of leading the Qatari team during this significant international occasion and delivering an exceptional performance to a global audience.
