02 Mar 2017
Doha, 02 March 2017. The Football Association Wales Trust Chief Executive Officer Mr Neil Ward and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mr Peter Lee OBE, toured Aspire Academy on Wednesday 1st March morning. The guided tour took place during Wales U-15 National teams’ participation in the Aspire Academy Tri-series football competition. The two gentlemen from FAW Trust had audience with Aspire Academy Director General, Mr Ivan Bravo where they discussed areas of mutual cooperation on running that included coach education and development exchange programs as well as other football related matters
Speaking after the tour, Mr Neil Ward said, “Aspire Academy is impressive and boasts state of the art infrastructure and an ideal place for nurturing and developing sport talent. The philosophy of education and sports programs run here is world class and speaks of the well set out and clear intentions by the authorities of this country to enhance sport and develop top athletes for tomorrow. Like Qatar, Wales is a small nation with a small population but when well thought out plans and structured programs for sport development are put in place success can be achieved, so from what l have seen here l am optimistic Qatar is on track to be a force to reckon with in sport in the future and Aspire Academy is central to these goals,” said Mr Ward.
“I am confident that Qatar will organize and host a successful FIFA 2022 World Cup after what l have seen of this country’s approach to sport development. The Welsh U-15 National team is delighted to be invited to play the Tri-Series competition and just like Qatar we in Wales believe that the strength and future of any football team is related to the work done in its football academies. It is phenomenal that whereas elsewhere in the world football academies are the breeding ground for clubs, here Aspire is doing that for a whole nation of Qatar and that’s just fantastic," added Mr Peter Lee OBE, Chair of the Football Association Wales Board of Trustees.
Wales U-15 National team finished second best in both matches against Ajax Academy and Aspire Academy and according to FAW Technical Director, Osian Roberts despite his charges giving it a good go, the time both Aspire and Ajax teams play together as oppose to the Welsh lads who had assembled from their clubs for this trip was part of the difference., “ It has been a good opportunity to measure our progress and face teams that we not play against normally and this can only make us better and assess where we are as a team and where we aim to be. The boys will be disappointed but will learn from the experience and for sure it has been good to participate in the competition and were are grateful to have been invited by Aspire Academy."