Students at the prestigious ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence are to take part in soccer matches against some of the most talented young footballers from Ireland next week.
The Ireland National Under-15s football team are travelling to Doha for the first time to play the ASPIRE 1991 and 1992 squads, competing in a series of matches from 7 – 11 January.
Football fans are expecting a series of intense games, particularly since several of the Irish team are tipped as stars of the future, and the youth team has historically been the launch-pad for many English Premiership careers.
Members of ASPIRE’s football team are also developing strong skills, aided by the advanced coaching methodology employed at the Academy, in addition to facilities like seven state-of-the-art football pitches and a goalkeeper training area.
Members of the public are invited to attend the matches free of charge. Spectators will able to attend three games: 7th January (5pm kick-off), 9th January (5pm), and 11th January (4pm).
Michael Browne, Head Football Coach, ASPIRE, said: “We are greatly looking forward to welcoming the Ireland National Under-15s team, and we know our players will relish the opportunity to play such a talented side.
“Events like these offer the opportunity for our football students to compete against international opposition and to learn from the different playing styles they adopt. We are also pleased to invite members of the public to watch the matches, since we’re confident it will be a compelling spectacle.”
Ireland’s U15 squad is the youngest team permitted to wear the famous green jersey and regularly takes part in fixtures across the world. The FAI, Ireland’s football governing body, established the international department in January 2002.
The Ireland National U15 squad will be at ASPIRE from 7th January to 12th January 2007.
About ASPIRE
ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, was created with the dual aims of identifying and transforming promising student athletes into world renowned champions across a wide range of sports and to act as a beacon to draw sporting culture into the centre of life in Qatar and the surrounding region.
The Academy is distinguished by a philosophy which aims to develop the whole student, providing them with full academic, social and sporting development.
Unrivalled facilities mark the Academy out as one of the world’s foremost sporting and educational institutions, and entice an ever increasing number of visitors from across the spectrum of world sports to use or simply view them. These same facilities will also play host to events during the forthcoming Asian Games 2006.
With one indoor and seven outdoor football pitches, athletics tracks, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, diving pool, combat arenas, gymnastics arena, specially designed weight rooms, lecture halls, dormitories to accommodate what will eventually become 1,000 students, a medical centre and more besides, much beneath the world’s largest purpose built indoor sports dome, every aspect of the development of elite athletes is catered for. ASPIRE is a place for those who dare to dream.
ASPIRE TODAY, INSPIRE TOMORROW
www.aspire.qa
