11 Mar 2013
Aspire Academy is set to take on top international football teams – Gheorghe Hagi Football Academy 1998 and 1999, and Schalke 04 1998 and 1999 – this week in a Triangular tournament at Aspire Academy outdoor football pitches.
The three day football competition, which will be held from 11-13 March, will see the Aspire 1998 and Aspire 1999 teams go head-to-head against their European counterparts in a battle to claim the highly coveted first place position.
Mr. Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, said, “We are thrilled to be welcoming Gheorghe Hagi Football Academy and Schalke 04 to Aspire Academy. The tournament is an opportunity for our players to compete against two big European academies and for all participants taking part in the tournament to gain experience that will inevitably help them in the future. It’s also a chance for the players to learn from each other.” He continued, “We are looking forward to a high level of football being played here over the next few days.”
The games are set to kick off at 4.15pm every afternoon on the outdoor pitches at Aspire Zone and two matches a day will take place simultaneously. Spectators are encouraged to visit the precinct to cheer on the young teams. Gheorghe Hagi Football Academy and Schalke 04 arrived on Saturday and Sunday respectively and are staying at the Torch-Doha Hotel. The European players will also be given the opportunity to train at the precinct using the state-of-the-art facilities.
Aspire Academy regularly organizes, as well as hosts, international sports tournaments at Aspire Zone designed to help the development of youth talent. In January 2013, Aspire Zone Foundation co-hosted the second annual Al Kass Tournament with Qatar Football Association and Al Kass Sport Channels. The annual competition brought together 12 teams from around the globe to compete over a period of ten days at Aspire Zone.