Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 is the culmination of many years of hard work and commitment from the whole nation and as such Aspire Academy is proud to have played its part in making history, said Ali Salem Afifa, Deputy Director General, Aspire Academy.
“Aspire Academy was founded in 2004 with the vision of helping Qatar’s sporting development and produce champions in sport. We wanted, and still strive, to ensure that Qatar can compete at the very highest level in sport at events like the FIFA World Cup. Now after the global success of academy graduate Mutaz Essa Barshim in athletics, it is time for our football graduates to shine on the world stage and reflect the work that we do,” he said.
“Many members of the squad, who will make history as Qatar’s first-ever team at a FIFA World Cup, were trained at Aspire Academy, some of them beginning their journey with us when they were just five- or six- years-old and spotted by our Talent Identification teams. Others have been picked out by our scouting department who visit clubs and other events – the very best are offered scholarships at the Academy. Even before they join the academy to study, many five- to eleven-year-olds train at our facilities.
“During their time with us their sporting development is overseen by staff members from around the world. Our top-class football coaches are backed by a host of other experts in areas such as science, psychology and biomechanics. The efforts of the student- athletes and the staff are now paying dividends with our graduates and former staff members set to represent Qatar at the FIFA World Cup.
“While it will be mainly on the pitch that we will see our graduates in starring roles, we know that they have the skills to shine away from it as well. That’s because all the student-athletes who pass out from the academy enjoy an internationally recognised academic education to go along with their sporting development.
“We strive to prove education and sport work hand-in-hand to produce well-rounded individuals,” explained Salem Afifa.
Aspire Academy’s Director General Ivan Bravo said: “We at Aspire Academy are proud of our role in Qatar becoming the first-ever Arab nation to host a World Cup.”
“It has been an honour to be part of the entire process – from helping with the original bid, to being involved in the organisation of the tournament to now looking forward to welcoming the teams to our facilities and ensuring Qatar hosts an incredible World Cup.”
Welcoming FIFA and others
Aspire Academy has been involved ever since Qatar put together its proposal to host the FIFA World Cup, with facilities highlighted as part of the bid. During the process to assess the bids to host the 2022 tournament, an inspection team from FIFA visited the Aspire Academy. Once Qatar had been named as hosts, the academy was the venue for a presentation of the proposed World Cup stadia to a FIFA delegation.
More recently, Aspire welcomed match officials from Asia, Africa and Oceania, who are due to officiate at the World Cup as FIFA used its facilities for a conditioning camp. The referees and assistant referees not only enjoyed the use of world-class facilities and technology but also the support of Aspire Academy staff.
FIFA have also benefitted from the academy’s high-profile staff like former Australia star Tim Cahill and ex-coach Bora Milutinovic, who have worked in advisory and ambassadorial roles. The academy’s links with some of the biggest clubs in the world has also led to FIFA using former stars such Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzales and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez in similar roles.
Since Qatar was named as 2022 World Cup hosts Aspire Academy has welcomed visiting dignitaries, VIPs and media for tours of the facilities. Several football associations of teams taking part in the World
Cup are among the delegations who have visited the academy. The tours highlight the role the academy will play in the hosting of the World Cup and the contribution it has made to the development of the Qatar national team.
Hosting World Cup teams
Australia and Ghana have decided to use the academy’s training facilities during the World Cup alongside Qatar, whose headquarters are permanently based at Aspire Academy.
Hosts Qatar are staying Al Azaziyah Boutique Hotel which adjoins Aspire Academy’s outdoor training pitches. They will make use of two outdoor pitches as well as the gym, medical area and changing rooms within the Football Performance Centre.
Australia are staying on site in the academy’s own accommodation in the West Dormitory, which will also accommodate their medical area and changing room. They will use two outdoor training pitches and the outdoor football gym.
Ghana are residing off-campus but making use of two outdoor training pitches, a newly-built gym, medical areas and rooms adjacent to the pitches. These updated facilities will offer more flexibility to teams who visit the academy after the World Cup.
