23 Jan 2017
Doha, 23 January 2017. On Monday morning, all players of the 2017 “Al Kass International Cup” were invited to a workshop titled “Stars of Tomorrow, what does it take to be a football role model” at Meliá Doha Hotel.
The event was moderated by Al Kass-presenter Rhodri Williams and featured former French football star David Trezeguet, coaching personality Bora Milutinovic and ICSS Group CEO Michael Hershman. After showing an inspirational video about the “Save the Dream” - an initiative established by the ICSS in partnership with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and with the support of Ooredoo, the panelists spoke to the Al Kass International Cup stars. Hershman spoke about the threats for today’s sport such as doping and match-fixing and appealed on the young players to stay away from these kinds of temptations and thereby protect the values in football.
Trezeguet told the players that they had to aim to be the best they can be and make the most of the opportunities they had to play football. “Remember that you are primarily a footballer and you should strive to play as best as you can and always have the love and passion for what you do which is to play football. There is so much pressure on young players with agents, clubs and parents all keen to get the best for the young player and of course money has been thrown into it too, so amongst all this in modern football remember to first play for the love of the game and enjoy your football first and the rest will come accordingly and in its own time”, advised the former Monaco and Juventus striker.
Coach Bora Milutinovic dared the players to keep dreaming about what they want to be and achieve in football, “Ask yourself about your target for next 5 years, where you will be when the FIFA 2022 World Cup takes place here in Qatar? The most important decision on the football field is the next one you make , remember that said Milutinovic, one of only two people (the other being Carlos Alberto Parreira) to have attended five FIFA World Cups as team manager
The panellists then took some questions from the audience before Massimiliano Montanari, Save the Dream Executive Director announced David Trezeguet as new Save the Dream Ambassador. The young players were able to pose for photographs with Trezeguet and Milutinovic at the end of the workshop.