05 Sep 2024
In August, the majority of Aspire Academy’s football student-athletes enjoyed two training camps in Europe ahead of the new season.
A total of 43 players from the 2009, 2010, and 2011 generations spent 10 days in Bulgaria.
The 2007 and 2012 generations then joined them for a 13-day trip to Qabala, Azerbaijan, where 123 student-athletes participated in coaching sessions and a series of friendly matches.
All five age groups played two training matches, one against the local team Qabala and the other against Qarabag.
The trip also included social activities, both indoor and outdoor, as well as a number of lectures and meetings to discuss tactics and offer the student-athletes feedback to help their development.
There were also 72 members of staff, including coaches, nutritionists, data analysts and other operational staff, on the trip to support the student-athletes.
The senior coaches of all the teams in Azerbaijan explained that travelling overseas for training camps is a key part of the development process, not just from the playing perspective but also away from the pitch.
Rodrigo Fernandes, coach of the Under-18 squad:
“They will experience a different level of competition than they face in Qatar. Living with each other is another big aspect of this because it's not just about football.”
“We get the chance to put our strengths into practice - stepping forward and putting pressure on the opponent from the very beginning. This is a big part of our methodology, taking the game to the opponent.”
Marc Pfertzel, coach of the Under-16 squad:
“A camp like this gives me a chance to help them develop their understanding of the game. To make decisions and to know what they need to do exactly during the game.”
“Away from the football, it helps them to live together and understand the high demands needed to be an elite athlete. There’s also a lot less visible work being done, such as nutrition, hydration, and recovery time, such as sleeping. These camps give them the chance to organize themselves, learning self regulation. “
“I am proud that this team has the capacity to listen every day. I feel that this team wants to grow not only together but also as individuals.
Nicolas Nunes Rojas, coach of the Under-15 squad:
“Camps like this help players a lot to learn about the discipline of adhering to training, which requires a lot of effort and sacrifice. In order to improve and develop, they need these experiences.”
“One of the most important things we aim to develop in the players is their personal potential and understanding of the game.”
“We want them to know the reasons why they do things as they discover different solutions to problems and make more of the advantages they have. Like this, we will produce players who are better prepared and more autonomous as they improve.”
Ian Uranga Chong, coach of the Under-14 squad:
“Preparing for a match is the same as preparing for a training session. We see matches as an opportunity to improve, just like training sessions.”
“These types of camps help to strengthen the bonds within the team structure. It gives us plenty of time to work together. And it enriches us collectively as well as individually.”
“Each player works on their individual improvement goals. Every player has a different process, and we try to help them in their development.”
Joseba Bikandi Oleaga, coach of the Under-13 squad:
“For us, the most important thing is not to think too much about our opponent. Our work at camps like these is to put the focus on us, on our objectives, on our lessons, our development, and how we can improve.”
“Different opponents offer us the chance to put things into practice and to try to hone them. It's important to face different situations so the players know what to do.”
The 2008 generation were not part of the European camps this time around as the majority of them re with the Qatar national under-17 squad preparing for October’s 2025 AFC Under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Qatar will host one of the mini-tournaments, which kicks off on 23 October and will feature Japan, Nepal, and Mongolia. Only the winners will be guaranteed a place in the finals in Saudi Arabia next year.