PSG’s women team during their training camp at the Aspire Academy’s grounds. Right: PSG women team also enjoyed kayaking and other activities during their visit.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
For the women’s football team of Paris Saint-Germain, the recently concluded training camp in Qatar was not only an opportunity to train at Aspire Academy’s facilities and prepare for their upcoming Champions League semi-final, but also offered their national team players from across Europe an insight into how the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will be for players and fans. And when they were not training, the players enjoyed some of Qatar’s fascinating sights and experiences, heading to Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, a desert safari and a team kayaking trip in the mangroves.
“I wasn’t expecting this, it is fantastic. The atmosphere is very good, we were very well received and I am positively surprised,” said PSG and France midfielder Jessica Houara, “the training facilities are exceptional. This small country likes to do things big, you can see this everywhere here, and I am sure that the World Cup in 2022 will be magnificent.”
Her teammate and Germany defender Josephine Henning encouraged football fans from across the world to come to Qatar and have a look at the country for themselves, as well as to try first hand some of the local tourism offerings: “It is so different and that alone makes it so interesting. It is something special, I have been able to see the country, the Katara cultural village, and they try to show with simple means what the lifestyle is like here. Our welcome has been great, in the city and the hotel. With all the people who we are in contact with, there is a friendliness that you can feel. They will welcome everyone here in 2022.”
Meanwhile, experienced Sweden and PSG midfielder Caroline Seger, who finished third with her side at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany, said that the local women’s league would help young players develop as they aim to qualify for a major tournament: “I think it’s amazing that they have a league and national team here. I hope they can improve and have the opportunity to have amazing facilities like these. I think that if they enjoy the game and work hard with professionalism, then I will see them at big tournaments in the future.”
Seger concluded that the 2022 World Cup Qatar would be a great tournament for teams due to the reduced travel time for players: “When we have travelled with the Swedish national team, during a tournament you travel very far. I have been to the tournament in China where you have the time difference and you have to travel a lot. That is very hard for your body as a football player. So having it within walking distance or just an hour away, that will of course help the players, and also the fans who will not have to fly across the country.”
