01 Oct 2012
Aspire Academy Demonstrates “the Aspire Way” in Coaching Clinics Held during Qatar Japan Week.
Prominent Japanese football clubs, Yokohama F. Marinos and Kashima Antlers FC, joined forces with Qatar’s Aspire Academy this week to bring to rising Japanese football stars in Tokyo a selection of coaching clinics to celebrate Qatar Japan Week 2012.
The clinics were led by Bora Milutinovic, an Aspire Academy Ambassador. An internationally-renowned figure, Milutinovic is best known for having coached five different teams across five different FIFA World Cups.
The first clinic ran from 28th – 29th September with Yokohama F. Marinos, one of the most popular J-League clubs in the country, whilst the second was held in collaboration with one of Japan’s most successful club team, Kashima Antlers FC on the 30th September.
Takehiro Takashima, Head of Youth Development at the Kashima Antlers FC, said, “We are extremely honored that Aspire Academy chose our venue to demonstrate the friendship between Qatar and Japan.”
“We were invited to Qatar in January 2012 and our players gained valuable experience both there and again here in Kashima. We hope to continue this fantastic relationship between the two clubs and eventually help build a greater future for football in both countries,” he added.
Milutinovic expressed his gratitude towards the Japanese Clubs, “One more time we have together proven that sport is the bridge that leads to unity between people. The language of sport is universal and the one language that brings us together.”
“I would like to thank the Yokohama F Marinos and the KashimaAntlers FC for their hospitality and hosting us and congratulate them on their excellent facilities,” he added.
Qatar Week: Ferjaan in Tokyo, which is derived from the colloquial Qatari Arabic term meaning “neighborhood”, commemorated 40 years of friendship between the two countries. The event hosts a multitude of ongoing activities in both countries to promote the mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation of the Qatari and Japanese cultures, traditions and people.
Ivan Bravo, Aspire Academy’s Director General, commented on the Academy’s presence at Qatar Japan 2012: “We are delighted to participate in the Qatar Japan week commemorating 40 years of excellent relations between the two countries. Our Academy has already played a great role sports wise in this relationship as we have hosted numerous Japanese teams and clubs to either train on our premises or to play friendly games with our Academy’s football teams.”
“Japan has been added to our international football training camps program in which our student athletes are given the opportunity to gain experience and take another step towards becoming future champions,” he added.
Aspire Academy has cultivated its relationship with a number of Japanese football clubs over the last year. In January 2012, Kashima Antlers FC visited Aspire for the inaugural Al Kass U-17 Cup, whilst in May, the Japanese national football team played Aspire in May 2012. Finally, an Aspire Academy training camp took place in Kashima during the summer months of June and July 2012.
Aspire Academy’s coaching clinics demonstrate a commitment to mutual understanding and sharing and appreciating sport between different cultures, people and sports clubs.