Fermanagh native Simon McDonough has spent the last month volunteering at the World Cup and has had the opportunity to watch ten games during the tournament that concluded on Sunday with Lionel Messi lifting the trophy for Argentina.

Simon is approaching ten years living in Qatar, where he is a PE teacher, and he met his wife and started a family in the country.

He feels though that at times during the World Cup that Qatar has received some undeserved negative publicity.

“Unfortunately, the Western Press only gives you an insight of the negative aspects of Qatar. When I moved here ten years ago, I was hesitant about the culture and religion, but I found it very easy to adapt to and showing respect to the country that I was their guest in,” he said.

And he says that he has seen huge changes in the country during his time there.

“I have seen massive change since moving here ten years ago, from a country that was pretty much a desert 40 years ago, the skyline of buildings, hotels, schools and the football stadiums are out of this world,” he said.

This World Cup was the first time that an Arab country has hosted the tournament.

“It’s meant so much for an Arab country to host a World Cup,” he added. “The atmosphere with all the different fans has been incredible, the Qataris have been a great host welcoming everybody into the country – all they ask is that you respect their laws and cultures.

“I have had some friends and family come to visit for the World Cup and holidays and they always had a great time here.

“I think it [the World Cup] will give people a better understanding of the Arab world and how they work.

“With it being a Muslim country, people think you can’t get a beer or have to cover fully, but this is not the case – they have the best hotels and bars in the world, and you would pay the same for a pint here as you would in Enniskillen when you find the happy hours.”

McDonough also enjoyed volunteering at the tournament.

“It’s been a great experience and something I will never forget; getting to see over ten different games played has been unreal,” he stated.

And of his time in the country, he added: “I came here as a newly qualified teacher nearly 10 years ago, as at that time there were no full-time PE jobs going.

“To be honest, I had to Google the country, as I didn’t have a clue where it was!

“But I met my wife here. We have started a family with our 18-month-old daughter, and have another baby on the way.

“We both love the schools we work in, the sunshine 365 days a year, and have met some really good friends here. We don’t expect to live here forever but we are in no rush to leave anytime soon."