AFP
Doha
The young players of PSG’s academy in Doha performed a range of drills under the watchful eyes of their mostly French coaches as the sun set on the horizon.
Their side’s Champions League triumph against Leipzig, taking them through to Sunday’s final against Bayern Munich in Lisbon, was on the lips of several students.
"My expectation is PSG are going to win 3-1, hat-trick from Neymar,” said Yassine el-Samman, 11. "But Bayern are a fantastic team.”
Samman, like others at the under-12s training session, said his family were newcomers to the dominant French side.
"I was watching a match with my dad once. He told me there was this club he didn’t know about called PSG. And I saw them play really well, so we decided to watch more of them.”
The academy opened to fanfare in January 2019 at an event attended by PSG superstar Neymar and first team coach Thomas Tuchel.
Open to boys and girls aged between five and 16, it operates across four sites.
PSG’s network of more than 70 similar academies worldwide is a key part of its ambitious project to expand its appeal globally and secure a place in the top echelon of world football.
"It’s important to promote our brand, but not only that. It’s about values too,” said academy technical director Cyril Klosek. "PSG is already one of the best brands in the sports industry, we develop branding, merchandising and these academies.”
Twenty-two youngsters in immaculate dark-blue PSG jerseys performed a range of dribbles and passes.
"Most of the (students) knew PSG, but maybe less than English Premier League clubs or Spanish clubs. But we talk a lot about the club’s history,” said Klosek.
Several PSG stars have visited in past years for winter training camps – and fan selfies. The academy also supports Qatar’s strategy to cultivate home-grown talent ahead of 2022 with one player from the PSG academy sent to Paris for trials.
"PSG was keen to set up training camps in Qatar, which contributed to strengthening their popularity in Doha,” Qatar-based sports journalist Hossam Nabawy told AFP.
"Certainly winning the Champions League would contribute greatly to increasing PSG’s popularity in most parts of the world, not just Doha.”
But it is Liverpool that enjoys the perhaps the most spirited support in Qatar where its Egyptian talisman Mo Salah is revered. During the Club World Cup in Doha in December 2019, thousands of local Liverpool supporters joined forces with travelling fans to watch their victorious campaign. But Qataris themselves have warmed to PSG since their country acquired it in 2011, experts say.
"Qataris have become inclined to support the team after its acquisition by Qatar and the presidency of Nasser Al Khelaifi who (helped) the team reach the Champions League final for the first time,” said commentator Mahmoud Nsiri.
When asked why he supported PSG, one young supporter shopping in the club store ahead of Sunday’s final said simply: "Neymar”.
Doha
The young players of PSG’s academy in Doha performed a range of drills under the watchful eyes of their mostly French coaches as the sun set on the horizon.
Their side’s Champions League triumph against Leipzig, taking them through to Sunday’s final against Bayern Munich in Lisbon, was on the lips of several students.
"My expectation is PSG are going to win 3-1, hat-trick from Neymar,” said Yassine el-Samman, 11. "But Bayern are a fantastic team.”
Samman, like others at the under-12s training session, said his family were newcomers to the dominant French side.
"I was watching a match with my dad once. He told me there was this club he didn’t know about called PSG. And I saw them play really well, so we decided to watch more of them.”
The academy opened to fanfare in January 2019 at an event attended by PSG superstar Neymar and first team coach Thomas Tuchel.
Open to boys and girls aged between five and 16, it operates across four sites.
PSG’s network of more than 70 similar academies worldwide is a key part of its ambitious project to expand its appeal globally and secure a place in the top echelon of world football.
"It’s important to promote our brand, but not only that. It’s about values too,” said academy technical director Cyril Klosek. "PSG is already one of the best brands in the sports industry, we develop branding, merchandising and these academies.”
Twenty-two youngsters in immaculate dark-blue PSG jerseys performed a range of dribbles and passes.
"Most of the (students) knew PSG, but maybe less than English Premier League clubs or Spanish clubs. But we talk a lot about the club’s history,” said Klosek.
Several PSG stars have visited in past years for winter training camps – and fan selfies. The academy also supports Qatar’s strategy to cultivate home-grown talent ahead of 2022 with one player from the PSG academy sent to Paris for trials.
"PSG was keen to set up training camps in Qatar, which contributed to strengthening their popularity in Doha,” Qatar-based sports journalist Hossam Nabawy told AFP.
"Certainly winning the Champions League would contribute greatly to increasing PSG’s popularity in most parts of the world, not just Doha.”
But it is Liverpool that enjoys the perhaps the most spirited support in Qatar where its Egyptian talisman Mo Salah is revered. During the Club World Cup in Doha in December 2019, thousands of local Liverpool supporters joined forces with travelling fans to watch their victorious campaign. But Qataris themselves have warmed to PSG since their country acquired it in 2011, experts say.
"Qataris have become inclined to support the team after its acquisition by Qatar and the presidency of Nasser Al Khelaifi who (helped) the team reach the Champions League final for the first time,” said commentator Mahmoud Nsiri.
When asked why he supported PSG, one young supporter shopping in the club store ahead of Sunday’s final said simply: "Neymar”.