(MENAFN- Gulf Times) When Qatar take on China in a friendly match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha today, the focus would be on Mirahmetjan Muzepper who is primed to become the first Uighur to represent China's national team, amid growing international concern about the fate of the ethnic minority group.
Muzepper was born in the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, in China's far-western region of Xinjiang, where tough security measures are in place against what the government calls a separatist and extremist threat.
Tianjin Teda midfielder Muzepper has been called up by China coach Marcello Lippi and is hoping to make his debut either against Qatar tomorrow or versus Bahrain three days later.
Muzepper featured at the 2010 Asian Games for China's under-23 team and was included in the senior training squad the same year.
But he did not make the team on that occasion and now 27, he hopes to convince Italian World Cup winner Lippi to give him the nod for his first full cap, in what would be a landmark footballing occasion at a troubled time for Uighurs.
'It is different from before, Muzepper told state broadcaster CCTV this week, comparing his time with the senior side in 2010 to now.
'I was quite young then, but the pressure is quite big this time.
Muzepper, whose father and grandfather were footballers, added: 'As long as I am given the chance, for every match I will give 100 %.
'I hope that I can get the chance. Muzepper, who can play on the wing or in central midfield, has been ever-present this season for mid-table Tianjin, playing 18 times in the Chinese Super League (CSL), scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Underlining the sensitivity of the Uighur question in China, state media have shied away from mentioning Muzepper's ethnicity.
However, he is proud of his heritage and said in an interview last year: 'Xinjiang players have that unyielding (character) in their bones.
'Even though my skills are not as good as yours, I can use my efforts to make up for it.
Meanwhile, Qatar's national team concluded their preparations for the match against China ahead of early next year's Asian Cup in the UAE. Qatar are placed in Group E which includes Lebanon, North Korea and Saudi Arabia. In the second friendly, Qatar will take on Palestine on September 11.
The team will also play two friendly matches against Ecuador and Uzbekistan in October. The first will be against Ecuador on October 12 in Doha, while the second against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on October 16.
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