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Tribune News Network
Doha
The 5th edition of the ‘Aspire Academy Global Summit’ on Football Performance and Science kicked off at the Academy’s state-of-the-art Football Performance Center in Doha on Monday.
Delegates from 50 football clubs and federations, as well as some of world football’s biggest names such as Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino, former Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari, retired Argentinian and AC Milan striker Hernan Crespo, Everton great Tim Cahill all participated in the opening day of the three-day summit.
Commenting on the event, Director General of Aspire Academy Ivan Bravo praised Qatar’s patience and commitment in implementing sporting ideas over the years. Since inception, Aspire Academy has continued to churn out top professionals like Mutaz Barshim who recently won gold medal in the high jump event of the IAAF World Championships in Doha.
Also, the recent Asian Cup victory by the Qatar national football team, is solely down to the infrastructure both facilities and coaching at the Aspire Academy.
“There are many great ideas in football, but often times we face obstacles. We are fortunate here in Qatar that everyone has a lot of patience, because in order to achieve something it takes resilience. I previously talked about our road map, our vision towards 2022 and the milestones that show our progression. And in order to progress you need continuity and trust in the people that have worked with the young generations of Qatari footballers day in and day out and every year we felt that we made another step forward.
“We built our athletes knowing their weaknesses and the context in which they are in. We worked step by step and then the triumph at the Asian Cup happened with a whole nation behind us. An unthinkable result when you think that Qatar faced big football nations in terms of their population and football history. This achievement gives us the energy give us one more push. And we keep pushing and learning from one another. That’s why we keep bringing good coaches to the league in Qatar, so the players keep developing,” said Bravo.
Pochettino Masterclass
Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino delivered a masterclass on his football philosophy titled “Football being a contest of emotions”.
Pochettino, whose Tottenham have endured a trying weak after a crushing 7-2 loss to Bayern Munich and another demolishing defeat at the hands of Brighton over the weekend, said football brings passion and emotions. He added that with commitment and the introduction of technology, football transcends imagination – highlighting Aspire’s success over the years.
“I congratulate the Qatar Football Association for the victory in the Asian Cup. Whenever we come here to Qatar and Aspire, we are encouraged and struck by the vision, planning and the passion this country shows for sport development. I know that Aspire Academy is on the path to more use of science in football including mental toughness and for sure we need to use science to improve the game. I think football in general as a sport is still behind in what we can do with science,” Pochettino said.
He also stressed that stakeholders should act as custodians of football for the next generation.
“The game brings out passion, desire and drive and when commitment is added we see that it transcends society and a lot is involved. We must however not lose sight of the fact that we are responsible for safe guarding and passing on the game to our children. We are here at the Aspire Academy Global Summit on Football Performance on the back of two recent loses, in the Champions League – against Bayern Munich and against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. This sport we love throws these situations to us and l believe it is in times of problems that you keep going. It’s for me and my coaching staff to find the tools to help the players regain the form and mentality that got us the positive results from last season.
“I prefer to give the players the freedom to make choices on the field. We work on different things in training and come match day, the decisions on the field are up to the players. I tell my players that football is about today and tomorrow and not yesterday,” the Argentine added.
Doha
The 5th edition of the ‘Aspire Academy Global Summit’ on Football Performance and Science kicked off at the Academy’s state-of-the-art Football Performance Center in Doha on Monday.
Delegates from 50 football clubs and federations, as well as some of world football’s biggest names such as Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino, former Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari, retired Argentinian and AC Milan striker Hernan Crespo, Everton great Tim Cahill all participated in the opening day of the three-day summit.
Commenting on the event, Director General of Aspire Academy Ivan Bravo praised Qatar’s patience and commitment in implementing sporting ideas over the years. Since inception, Aspire Academy has continued to churn out top professionals like Mutaz Barshim who recently won gold medal in the high jump event of the IAAF World Championships in Doha.
Also, the recent Asian Cup victory by the Qatar national football team, is solely down to the infrastructure both facilities and coaching at the Aspire Academy.
“There are many great ideas in football, but often times we face obstacles. We are fortunate here in Qatar that everyone has a lot of patience, because in order to achieve something it takes resilience. I previously talked about our road map, our vision towards 2022 and the milestones that show our progression. And in order to progress you need continuity and trust in the people that have worked with the young generations of Qatari footballers day in and day out and every year we felt that we made another step forward.
“We built our athletes knowing their weaknesses and the context in which they are in. We worked step by step and then the triumph at the Asian Cup happened with a whole nation behind us. An unthinkable result when you think that Qatar faced big football nations in terms of their population and football history. This achievement gives us the energy give us one more push. And we keep pushing and learning from one another. That’s why we keep bringing good coaches to the league in Qatar, so the players keep developing,” said Bravo.
Pochettino Masterclass
Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino delivered a masterclass on his football philosophy titled “Football being a contest of emotions”.
Pochettino, whose Tottenham have endured a trying weak after a crushing 7-2 loss to Bayern Munich and another demolishing defeat at the hands of Brighton over the weekend, said football brings passion and emotions. He added that with commitment and the introduction of technology, football transcends imagination – highlighting Aspire’s success over the years.
“I congratulate the Qatar Football Association for the victory in the Asian Cup. Whenever we come here to Qatar and Aspire, we are encouraged and struck by the vision, planning and the passion this country shows for sport development. I know that Aspire Academy is on the path to more use of science in football including mental toughness and for sure we need to use science to improve the game. I think football in general as a sport is still behind in what we can do with science,” Pochettino said.
He also stressed that stakeholders should act as custodians of football for the next generation.
“The game brings out passion, desire and drive and when commitment is added we see that it transcends society and a lot is involved. We must however not lose sight of the fact that we are responsible for safe guarding and passing on the game to our children. We are here at the Aspire Academy Global Summit on Football Performance on the back of two recent loses, in the Champions League – against Bayern Munich and against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. This sport we love throws these situations to us and l believe it is in times of problems that you keep going. It’s for me and my coaching staff to find the tools to help the players regain the form and mentality that got us the positive results from last season.
“I prefer to give the players the freedom to make choices on the field. We work on different things in training and come match day, the decisions on the field are up to the players. I tell my players that football is about today and tomorrow and not yesterday,” the Argentine added.
