Japanese fan successfully tracks down football star in Qatar

Have you ever travelled overseas just to meet your favourite star? Let us introduce you to Yuki Toda, who travelled all the way from Japan to meet his favourite footballer Xavi, here in Qatar.

Toda is a Sales Executive with a travel company in Myanmar, but his main passion is football. 

He was recently booked to travel from Japan to London on a business trip with a few friends and colleagues. 

While he was planning his travel, he read about Xavi playing for Al Sadd Sports Club, Qatar, right here on Qatar Living.

Xavier Hernández Creus a.k.a Xavi is a 35 year old, Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.

The world-famous football star had quit the renowned Barcelona team and joined Al Sadd SC of Qatar.

Toda changed his ticket so that he could stop over in Qatar on his way to London - even though his friends and colleagues thought that was pretty crazy. 

He, thereby, started off on an unbelieveable journey to track down his football hero. 

Xavi debuted in Qatar by playing for the much hyped about Qatar Stars League this year from the Al Sadd SC.

He was the first player in Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches.

Highly regarded for his humble persona and team ethos, Xavi is viewed as being the embodiment of the tiki-taka passing style of play and is considered to be one of the greatest central midfielders of all time.

He is also considered by some to be Spain's greatest ever player.

Speaking to Qatar Living, Toda said that the modern era recognizes football through footballers such as Messi, Neymar and the like.

But, in Japan, people love football owing to players like Xavi who have had a strong foot in the game for over a period of time. He calls it the "generation-gap thinking".

He also adds that the short meet was incredible and an experience of a lifetime. He couldn’t believe the reality of meeting his star player whom he had dreamt of.

“I had always thought of meeting him but never got the right chance. As he was playing for Barcelona, I thought it would be difficult to get across him owing to the heavy security. When I saw the prospect of travelling to London via Qatar, I thought, ‘Why not make good use of the opportunity?’” he recollects.

But to his surprise, he was able to make his dream come true here in Doha.

He expressed as to how humble and polite the player was during their meet and was extremely patient while his fans flashed their cameras, taking photos and selfies.

Toda is thankful to Qatar and to Al Sadd SC where he met Xavi who was training for his match.

"The club officials were a little strict at first, but after my driver and I requested, they helped us out in meeting Xavi", he said.

The driver, Anas, was key in making the meeting happen - he managed to find out through his friends where Xavi would be and then went up to the officials of Al Sadd SC and requested on behalf of Toda.

Anas was able to convince the officials on duty that evening, to let in this fan, who had travelled all the way from Japan. 

So as it is said, all's well that ends well.

A happy Toda is seen with a T-shirt, signed by Xavi, bearing an emblem of the Al-Sadd Sports Club, Qatar.

Have you ever been so lucky to meet your sporting hero? Share the story with us here in the comments.