Football fans from all across the globe are preparing to descend on Qatar for a unique chance to experience world football’s biggest event as it is staged in the region for the first time.
To celebrate the impending arrival of hundreds of thousands of supporters from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East for a festival of the beautiful game, Clarence Seedorf, the Dutch football master who won the Uefa Champions League four times with a record three different clubs (Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan), and Khabib Nurmagomedov, the longest reigning and undefeated UFC lightweight champion, have been enlisted to take part in a short comedy film.
The film is released today (Thursday 6th October) as Etihad Airways increases capacity in flights from Abu Dhabi to Doha to six a day from November 20, the day before the big kick-off. For many Abu Dhabi will be the perfect base as well as a fantastic place to visit.
In the film, Seedorf and Khabib are enjoying the delights of business class on flight EY399 between Abu Dhabi and Doha, however, much to their surprise, there is a mystery celebrity who is attracting more attention from the other passengers than they are.
The intrigue builds as Seedorf and Khabib speculate as to the identity of this special guest and despite the duo’s best efforts they fail to catch a glimpse and have to take direct action to learn the superstar’s identity and are
left speechless when the football-loving frequent flyer is revealed to them and the audience at the same time.
It is none other than a falcon, the symbol of force and courage integral to Middle Eastern culture and heritage, which certainly made an impression on Seedorf, who said it was a “real privilege to get close to the very intelligent and impressive individual who played the mystery guest”.
Etihad Airways allows falcons to travel in its economy, business and first-class cabins. Nowadays, falconry is a popular sport in the United Arab Emirates which in 2016 UNESCO added to its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Hundreds of years ago, Bedouin hunters used falcons to hunt and deliver their pray.
COMMENTS