Aspire Academy Football Department celebrated the conclusion of 2016-17 football season with two closing ceremonies on Thursday.
The events witnessed various football activities for its student-athletes and the Feeder Group programme. This programme precedes enrolment at the Academy and is responsible for training students below the age of 12 who showcased exceptional football skills in the scouting process.
These ceremonies are held at the end of each year to recognise the Academy’s football student athletes and their coaching staff and their achievements. Opening the ceremony, Aspire Academy’s Football technical director Edorta Murua delivered a speech, in which he welcomed the students and commended them on their hard work throughout the year.
In recognition of the students’ efforts, the Academy displayed a video highlighting some of the student-athlete’s best moments in this year’s football tournaments, such as the Tri-series tournaments or Al Kass International Cup. The best footballers from each age group at the Academy were also awarded.
Meanwhile, the Feeder Group celebrated the end of their season by organising an engaging event for the programme’s young footballers and their fathers, whose support was imperative throughout the year.
Commenting on this year’s support, Arno Buitenweg, managing coach for the football feeder teams, said, “We’re very proud of this year’s achievements. Development is a long-term process that doesn’t happen overnight, it needs dedication, hard-work and commitment. The coaches have been working hard to ensure this year’s success, and the boys’ football skills have developed well across all age groups. We’re keen to continue this journey next year.”
Speaking more about the Feeder Group’s activities and next year’s plans, Naoufel Chebil, football coach at Aspire Academy, said, “The Feeder Group is the last stage before enrolment at the Academy. To enter the Feeder Group, Aspire Academy selects about 20 students below the age of 12, who have showcased exceptional skill through the Talent Identification Department’s scouting process. Kids who show good progress during their years of training at the Feeder Group will then be offered to join the Academy.”
He added, “Our plan for next year is organise new tournaments, training camps and workshops for these age-groups. The aim is to see how the boys apply the skills learned in the Feeder Group on the pitch, and we’ll implement the plan by working closely with other departments at the Academy.”
Faisal al-Dosari, one of the parents whose son, Abdulrahman, is enrolled in the Feeder Group, said, “My son has been with the Feeder Group for six years and he’s shown remarkable progress. The hope of being able to represent Qatar’s national team one day, especially in 2022, is a Qatari dream made obtainable thanks to Aspire Academy. We’re fortunate to have one of the best sports academies in the world along with some of the best coaches on the field, and I hope to see my son grow to become a renowned Qatari footballer.”
Aspire Academy’s football programme is widely recognised as one of the strongest in the world in terms of identifying, evaluating and nurturing talent, as well as training players and giving them scope and opportunities to compete.
The Academy’s training philosophy is tailored to the capabilities, talents and goals of Qatar as a footballing nation and it follows a strategy that is geared towards the development of individual players.
