Michail Antonio has described the harrowing moment he witnessed explosions from his hotel window on what should have been his debut for Qatari club Al Sailiya.
The former West Ham striker, who joined the Middle Eastern side just two days after war broke out in the region, experienced the terrifying reality of the conflict firsthand.
Antonio said: “The day I was meant to make my debut, that was a frightening day, hearing bombs and the hotel was shaking, that was terrifying.
“I looked out the window and saw flames from the bombs flying, that was the only day that was scary for me.”
The 35-year-old’s scheduled first match came amid Iran’s retaliatory strikes against American and Israeli targets, with Qatari officials confirming some attacks targeted civilian infrastructure.
Despite the alarming scenes on that first day, Antonio maintains he has felt secure in his new surroundings for the most part.
He told talkSPORT: “Since I’ve been here, you do hear loud bangs and stuff, but you never really get to see anything.
“I’ve not had the experience of anything crazy going on here, so that’s the reason I do feel quite safe here… it reassures me that I’m OK here and I’m safe here.”
Michail Antonio has described the harrowing moment he witnessed explosions from his hotel window on what should have been his debut for Qatari club Al Sailiya
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The Jamaican international has spoken positively about daily life in Doha, drawing comparisons to Abu Dhabi and highlighting the luxury amenities, quality restaurants and beaches available.
He has also praised the training facilities, pleasant weather and the slower pace of football in the Qatar Stars League, describing it as well-suited to this stage of his career.
Antonio’s path to Qatar followed a frustrating search for a new club after his West Ham exit last summer.
Proposed transfers to Championship sides Leicester City and Charlton Athletic both fell through due to concerns over his fitness following the serious injuries sustained in his December 2024 car accident.
The former West Ham striker joined the Middle Eastern side just two days after war broke out in the region
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The striker was forced to humble himself during his search, training with multiple clubs, including Brentford, in an attempt to prove his condition.
“I had to swallow my ego,” he told BBC Sport, revealing that some owners refused to take a chance on him despite managers wanting to sign him.
Fellow Jamaican international Mason Holgate ultimately convinced Antonio to make the move to Al Sailiya on a short-term deal running until the end of the season.
Antonio has expressed disappointment at how his decade-long spell at West Ham concluded, believing manager at the time Graham Potter was instrumental in his departure.
Michail Antonio experienced the terrifying reality of the conflict firsthand
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GETTY
He said: “I felt like it was mainly pushed by Graham Potter. I feel like he was just trying to get rid of the old regime… he got rid of a lot of the senior players like me, Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Edson Alvarez, players who had more control of the changing rooms.”
Potter was dismissed just a month after Antonio left the club last September.
The striker departed the London Stadium as the Hammers’ record Premier League goalscorer, netting 68 times across 323 appearances over ten years.
His eventual debut for Al Sailiya ended in a 4-0 loss to Al Duhail, but simply returning to competitive action represents another significant milestone in his recovery from the near-fatal crash in Epping Forest.
