10 Nov 2016
Doha, 10 November 2016. The second Tri-Series football tournament of the current season, featuring Leicester City FC from England, FC Dallas from United States of America and the hosts, Aspire Academy concluded on Wednesday 9th November at Aspire Academy. The teams competed in the 1999 (U-18) and 2001(U-16) age groups for the tournament that ran from 6 -9 November.
Speaking after the tournament, Leicester City U-18 coach, Trevor Peake expressed the club’s delight and thankfulness at the invitation to play in the tournament, “It has been terrific for the lads to come and play abroad especially a place like Qatar, the facilities here are magnificent and when we got the invitation we didn’t hesitate to take it up. Aspire Academy U-18 side was strong and gave us a good test as did FC Dallas so the matches were quite competitive. I thought the games were very even as the score line suggests.” said Trevor Peake who in his 13 years as coach at Leicester City counts amongst the players who passed through his hands in the youth set up structures, the duo of Jeffrey Schlupp and Andy King who were part of the "unbelievable" Leicester City team that won the 2015-2016 English Premiership title against all odds.
FC Dallas U-18 coach, Luis Gonzalez called his team’s participation a great experience for development of their group as soccer players and human beings, “ We have got first class treatment for everything from the very first time Aspire Academy got in contact with us. The organization, scheduling and the competition was excellent. We were fortunate to emerge victorious in both age groups but even more importantly we will grow and learn from this cultural experience we have got here in Qatar. By coming here we now understand why Qatar won the bid to host 2022 FIFA World Cup because they are ready and ambitious and it’s a beautiful country and FC Dallas wants to continue this relationship with Aspire Academy,” said Gonzalez
Meanwhile FC Dallas U-15 coach, Charles Hayden was thrilled with the differences in style that the opposition provided, “We really enjoyed playing two different teams which offered something challenging. Back in the US we normally face teams that are more defensive but Aspire Academy and Leicester attacked and wanted to press the game and this was a welcome challenge for us. Both matches were difficult and we ended up tying both and going to penalties to decide the winner. Coming here and seeing first-hand the country of Qatar, meeting the people and having a chance to see some of the facilities, l think it will be a fantastic FIFA 2022 World Cup to be hosted here in Qatar. When USA hosted 1994 FIFA World Cup it was a turning point for our country in terms of soccer and it was a kind of catalyst for MLS and we hope that Qatar football will be equally propelled on the back of a successful hosting of the World Cup,” said coach Hayden
The next Tri-Series tournament sees the visit of FC Porto from Portugal and Kashiwa from Japan with their teams from the 2002, 2003 and 2004 generation to engage the equivalent age counterparts from Aspire Academy from 27 November to 1st December.