My Impression of the Qatar World Cup
Football fans throughout the Caribbean and the world were glued to their screens for the recent Qatar 2022 World Cup. We held our breaths and peered through our fingers during the penalty shootouts. We debated with our friends whether the yellow cards and offsides were well deserved or not.  We shouted “Goooaaaal” when our teams scored.

Did you enjoy the World Cup 2022?

Here are extracts of a professional opinion by none other than Mr. Alvin Corneal, a FIFA Instructor, Junior and Senior National Football Coach of Trinidad and Tobago, Instructor and Technical Comm. Member at Concacaf and Founder of ALCONS Soccer Academy:

What is the difference between the Qatar 2022 tournament and ALL the previous World Cup series over the years?

As a lucky football fanatic, I have had the opportunity of being witness to 11 of the previous FIFA World Cup Finals, and believe me, the task of comparison is difficult!

It is a very strenuous process given the great number of World Cup tournaments that have been held: 12! It is difficult for the memory to recall, and many of the middle aged among us would not have even seen all 12 tournaments.

My first observation is to note that the competing countries were from various parts of the world, and the variations in daylight time during the tournament made it a very tough adjustment for them in many ways.

The medics’ usual advice to the countries was to pay attention to the complex practices and time changes during the preparatory period of the tournament, as these changes could be discomforting for the footballers.

Adjustments in sleeping time, eating and training routines, were three major challenges for the players, which the public seldom recognized while enjoying the games.

My second chapter will provide you with comparisons on quality. Stay tuned for more!

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Dr. Alvin Corneal
Honorary Dr.Alvin Corneal HBM. Alvin is one of a handful of sportsmen who represented our national Football (Soccer) and Cricket teams concurrently between 1955 and 1971. He was also a member of the first-ever West Indies Football team which toured England in 1959. He played both sports professionally as a player and a coach to all levels of National Football teams. He had previously held positions as National football Coach of junior and senior teams, Technical Director of the TTFA, Technical Director of Concacaf, and the prestigious positions as FIFA Technical Committee Member and currently, a FIFA Technical Advisor. He is also a presenter/ analyst for Radio and television on all local, regional and International Sports. He is the recipient of a national Award from his country, Trinidad and Tobago for his outstanding service to the people of the region in Sport and ideal Character personality. He was also chosen to receive the Country’s Republic day award for the year 2011. He has been inducted into the Country’s Hall of Fame.