How a 70-rupee rental became the foundation of Qatar's oldest sports club
In short: Long before the modern skyline of Doha, a small group of founders rented a residential house for just 70 Indian rupees a month. This modest beginning in 1950 launched Al Najah, the precursor to Al Ahli, which remains the oldest surviving sports club in Qatar.
Founded in 1950 by Naji Musaad and others, the club originally operated as Al Najah Sports Club. It was established by the founders of the now-disbanded Sawt al-Arab. The club's early identity was forged through trial and error; in its first attempt to play abroad, a voyage to Bahrain was thwarted when the team was rejected for fielding foreign players. They eventually secured a 3–1 victory against Al Nusoor instead.
The club underwent a significant transformation in 1972 when Al Najah merged with another local entity to become Al Ahli Sports Club. This merger established the club's iconic green and white colors and an eight-member board of directors. The early era was marked by international encounters, including a 1973 friendly against a Santos side led by the legendary Pelé at the Doha Sports Stadium.
Financial volatility has also shaped its history. In September 1985, facing a debt of QAR 700,000, the club was forced to release five Yugoslavian players from its basketball, handball, and volleyball teams to avoid signing new foreign football players. Recovery was a community effort: the Ministry of Youth and Sports provided QAR 500,000, while members and supporters raised more than QAR 300,000 to stabilize the club's finances.
Despite periods of struggle, such as a relegation to the 2nd Division in the early nineties, Al Ahli has maintained a significant presence in Qatari sports. The club has secured the Emir Cup four times, beginning with a victory in the competition's inaugural edition under coach Mohammed Kheiri. Today, they play at the 12,000-capacity Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium, having set a league attendance record of 10,142 fans in April 2014.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Al Ahli SC (Doha)
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