Doha: Aspire Academy held a gala dinner in the Torch Hotel Doha to celebrate the Grand Final of the Sixth edition of its exceptional programme” Aspire Football Dreams”, the world’s largest scouting programme in football.
Those present were Aspire Zone Vice-President, Tariq Abdulaziz Al Naama, Ivan Bravo, Director General, Aspire Academy, Andreas Bleicher Director international Affairs Aspire, and the two guests of honor Spanish football legend Raul Gonzales, Qatar Al Sadd club’s professional player, and five times World Cup Serbian coach Bora Multinuvic.
Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of countries included in the programme.
The sixth edition selected 32 young talented young boys born 1999 from 12 countries across three continents; Asia, Africa and Latin America.
They are from Thailand Vietnam, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, and Uganda; who came to train with and play against each other at Aspire Academy as well as playing friendly games against their age group from FC Barcelona.
The top 32 boys were brought to Qatar to enjoy a two weeks trial and condensed training programme.
Aspire’s football coaching staff worked hand-in-hand with the programme’s scouts and country co-ordinators, headed by Programme Director Josep Colomer.
During their time in Doha, the boys have benefited from Aspire’s sports science facilities. These include hi-tech equipment, physical tests, fitness tests, scanning and medical treatments. They have also taken advantage of the leisure time program arranged for them by the Academy.
At the end of the Gala Dinner, which started with the projection of a video showcasing some actions from the yearlong scouting process, the boys were presented by their certificates and a nice ball signed by former Real Madrid and Spanish striker Raul Gonzales for their memories; and took a group photo with him on the stage as well as with the Academy’s management.
THE PENINSULA
