A training session in progress at the camp.
Doha: Aspire Academy hosted some of Asia’s top young footballers last week as part of the Nike All Asia Football Camp.
Training sessions and talent showcases for representatives from some of Europe’s leading clubs were held.
The international training event was an elite programme that gave young Asian footballers the chance to train with European coaches, demonstrate skills to delegations from Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Inter Milan and meet peers from other countries.
Ivan Bravo, Director General of Academy, said, “We are very pleased to host young Asian footballers. The importance of the training is not only the fact that coaches from European Leagues get to identify future stars of football, but also their visit gives them a closer look at amazing sporting facilities at the academy, giving them a feel of the love in the Gulf, especially Qatar.”
Brian McClair, Manchester United’s Academy Director and former club striker, said, “The event has been a unique opportunity for us to meet and observe some of the best young players Asia has to offer. It has been a privilege for me to witness first-hand some of the stars of the future in Qatar.”
He said the camp was a chance for the youth to access Aspire’s facilities and train alongside top-class coaches.
Comparing Asian players’ fitness to their peers in Europe, Coach Paolo Migliavacca from Inter Milan said, “The camp has been a great opportunity to examine Asian football, and although I have seen a lot of talent here, physical fitness of these Asian players is average compared to that we see in Europe.”
For Bidyananda Singh who plays for India’s National Under-17 team, the trip to Aspire drove his ambition of one day playing professionally for a European club even more.
“It has been an honour to play at Aspire because it is such an amazing facility. My dream is to one day play professional football for a European club and this experience has made it somewhat possible.”
With Asia attempting to establish itself as a hub of young footballing talent, the 60-strong group at the camp represented some of the world’s finest teenage players from 11 countries in the region. The Peninsula
