AZF preps for Bayern in the New Year

Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) will mark the start of the New Year bywelcoming Germany’s most successful club, Bayern Munich, for a wintertraining camp from January 2-7, 2018.Bundesliga defending champions arrive to make the most of AZF’sworld-class facilities shortly after the departure of ParisSaint-Germain, the most successful club in French history in terms oftrophies won. PSG departed Doha on December 23 after concluding yetanother successful winter training camp at AZF.Bayern Munich are returning to AZF this year for their eighthconsecutive annual training camp. Led by coach Jupp Heynckes, the teamfeatures several of Germany’s best players and international starsincluding Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Thomas Müller, RobertLewandowski, Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben, Arturo Vidal, ThiagoAlcântara, and David Alaba amongst others.The Bavarians are looking to secure their 28th Bundesliga title thisseason, and stand in good stead at the top of the table with 41 points,11 points ahead of second place FC Schalke 04, and 13 points ahead ofrivals Borussia Dortmund in third.The winter training camp in Qatar has become a key feature of the team’sseason and provides the perfect opportunity for the players to take abreather from the pressures of local and international competition.Commenting on Bayern Munich’s imminent arrival, Ibrahim Hilal, head ofFederations and Clubs Events at AZF, said, “After saying goodbye toParis Saint-Germain last week, we’re gearing up to welcome yet anotherof the world’s biggest clubs to Aspire Zone. The German champions arereturning to Doha for their eighth consecutive year, irrespective of theongoing diplomatic situation. The club is determined to draw on thebest of what AZF has to offer, which reflects the confidence they havein the country and its sporting institutions. It also provides furtherproof of how AZF and its affiliated organisations are perfectly placedto provide an integrated set of world-class sporting and medicalservices available to players all in one place. This makes Aspire theideal environment for training, particularly during the winter months,and helps explain why we see some of the world’s biggest clubs retuningyear after year.”He added: “The confidence placed in AZF is due in large part to theefforts of our employees and member organisations who work tirelesslytowards achieving the organisation’s goal of becoming the reference insports excellence worldwide by 2020.”AZF expects large numbers of football enthusiasts in Qatar to visitBayern’s winter training camp, particularly amongst the club’s many fanswho have consistently demonstrated their keenness to attend and watchthe team’s open training sessions. Last year, fans had a chance to seethe players in action, take autographs and have their picture taken withtheir favourite stars. In addition to FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, AZF’sfacilities have attracted visits from many other major clubs includingManchester United, Schalke, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Shanghai GreenlandShenhua FC, KAS Eupen and Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.