Syrian youth from Derik pursues his passion as sports commentator

By Hawar Hebbo

DERIK, Syria (North Press) – Qusai al-Sheikh is a dedicated sports commentator in football stadiums in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria. His voice never fails to ignite the crowd’s enthusiasm during every match.

Despite encountering technical challenges, this 27-year-old young man showcases a remarkable natural talent for sports commentary and unwaveringly pursues his passion.

During his childhood, he played with local football teams in the city of Derik, far-northeastern Syria . He was closely following match results, the standout players, and the pivotal moments.

Eight years ago, al-Sheikh earned his high school diploma and started studying English literature at a Syrian university. However, due to the country’s ongoing war, he was unable to continue his education.

Sports commentary is a vital aspect of modern sports, and its rules may vary from one country to another, depending on the prevailing cultural norms. It provides a real-time live commentary of a game.

Local sports club managers and players believe that al-Sheikh has excelled in commentating on matches, delivering an engaging experience to the audience outside the pitch.

Self-training

Nowadays, al-Sheikh is commentating on the youth football league matches in his hometown, with 21 teams participating.

Al-Sheikh’s love for sports commentary started when he was only 10 years old while watching the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. He used to mimicking the commentators he listened to.

He was influenced by the remarkable performance of the renowned Tunisian commentator Issam Chawali during the final match between France and Italy.

During that time, his friends asked him to commentate on their matches while playing in their villages.

People who heard the voice of al-Sheikh expressed their admiration for his talent and his ability to cheer the audience. This encouraged him to improve his skills and develop his own unique style, moving away from mere imitation of other commentators.

In recent years, the Youth and Sports Board of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has prepared several stadiums in Hasakah Governorate and held some competitions, giving al-Sheikh the opportunity to provide live commentary through social media platforms.

In 2021, he was the official commentator for the final match of the Jazira Cup between Sardam and Derik teams. The audience’s positive response and engagement with his commentary further fueled his passion.

He noted that his determination to continue commentary, attend local matches, and follow Arab and international matches on television have contributed to his self-training.

In 2022, he officially signed a contract with the Asayish Sports Club to provide commentary for their matches in the Jazira Cup tournament. This opportunity has given him access to a broader audience as several sports accounts on social media have broadcasted these matches.

Challenges and opportunities

Other sports teams have reached out to al-Sheikh to have him commentate on their important matches and light up their fans, especially those who cannot attend the games in person.

However, due to limited resources, the young man has been unable to procure state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment or gain access to a room fully equipped with the essential technologies required for radio and television broadcasting and commentary.

Nevertheless, the widespread use of social media platforms and smartphones have provided him with quick access to valuable practical experience.

“Currently, I only have my cellphone for live broadcasting. The problem is that internet interruptions and poor connections sometimes hinder my work,” he said.

The young commentator has only relied on self-training to gain experience in commentary, adapt his voice, control his emotions, and improvise expressions in sync with the game.

In 2023, he had the opportunity to participate in commentating on matches in the Syrian league. He accompanied the al-Hilal Club to the capital, Damascus, as well as the cities of Aleppo and Latakia to provide commentary on their matches.

Al-sheikh believes that this experience is extremely important in his career as it represents his first involvement in official matches in Syria.

He believes that having enough information about the teams, players, and coaches is crucial for him to perform his job effectively. Additionally, understanding football history, the fundamentals of sports analysis, and the ethics of sports journalism are also essential.

Despite facing obstacles, he has managed to take steps towards his dream of becoming a professional sports commentator.

For the near future, he hopes to have the opportunity to commentate on regional and international matches.

He also hopes to obtain better working conditions and tools to surpass the basics of commentary and analysis, ultimately fulfilling his dream of becoming an international commentator.