Nam Tae-Hee is a vital cog in the machine of new QNB Stars League champions  Al Duhail. The South Korean is one of the stars presently plying their trade in Qatar.

Nam, who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player last season, is among the core group of players Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi counts on to help them win the Qatar Cup.

The playmaker will also have a major role to play in the Emir’s Cup and AFC Champions League knockout campaign.

In an exclusive interview ahead of Al Duhail’s Qatar Cup semifinal against Al Gharafa, Nam spoke to QSL Online about an array of topics. Excerpts:

How do you rate the Qatar Cup?

It’s an important tournament. Al Gharafa are currently preforming well and will be fierce contenders for us.

What’re your ambitions in this competition?

There’s no doubt that Al Duhail are playing to win this tournament.

What’re Al Duhail’s chances of winning the Qatar Cup this season?

Our team has huge potential, but we’ll work hard as we’ll encounter lots of difficulties.

How different do you think the Qatar Cup is from other tournaments?

Definitely, there’s a big difference between the league and other tournaments in Qatar. In the league, you can make up for the lapses and come back, and can wait for other teams’ results. There’s no room for complacency in the Qatar Cup as conceding just one goal can ruin your dreams.

Can Al Duhail win lift Qatar Cup for the second time in history, after 2014-15?

Al Duhail have many prominent players with proven credentials. We believe we can build on the QNB Stars League success in the Qatar Cup.

You gave the assist to former team-mate Sebastian Soria to score the only goal against El Jaish in the final of 2014-15 Qatar Cup…

I recall it was a strong edition. I’ll work very hard to help my team-mates win the title, hoping to repeat the achievement of 2015. It’s really sad to enter this competition without Youssef Msakny, but all other players will put up their best efforts to make up for his absence.

How do you see the semifinal against Al Gharafa?

It won’t be an easy game. As I said earlier, Al Gharafa are in good shape currently. They’ve many outstanding players.

Will you be able to repeat your victory over Al Gharara in the second phase of Qatar Cup?

We drew with Al Gharafa in the first leg and defeated them in the second. Now, (Wesley) Sneijder and (Mehdi) Taremi have become more powerful. We’ve to work hard to defeat them.

How do see your league season and AFC Champions League campaign?

So far, so good. We’ve won the league title and qualified for the AFC Champions League’s Round of 16. We should keep getting positive results.

Are Al Duhail capable of winning all titles this season?

Of course. The team has been performing excellently this season. It’s a huge boost for us in future tournaments.

What’s your take on the AFC Champions League campaign?

That’s definitely a difficult campaign and the knockout stage needs solid preparations.

How do you evaluate your career and performance this season?

I do my best to play well and serve the team. The team in general is presenting thrilling performances. I’m so glad to be with Al Duhail, hoping to keep winning titles and making our fans happy.