Gulf Times
Aspire Zone Foundation
(AZF) has welcomed
four top flight European teams this week to
complete winter football training camps. Teams include Germa side Bayern Munich, Dutch
team PSV Eindhoven, and Belgian sides Club Brugge and KAS
Eupen.
During the world-class teams’
training camps, AZF also welcomed a number of dignitaries
including the Dutch ambassador
Dr Bahia Tahzib-Lie, who visited
PSV’s training camp, and Qatar’s
ambassador to Germany, Sheikh
Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who visited Bayern’s training
camp.
Sheikh Saoud, AZF CEO Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi and
Bayern Munich Sporting Director
Hasan Salihamidzic were seen on
the pitch witnessing the training
camps.
Commenting on his visit to the
Bavarians’ camp, Sheikh Saoud
said, “Hosting Bayern Munich
for the ninth consecutive year
clearly demonstrates how the
State of Qatar has become a regional sports capital and reflects
the strength of the welcome and
hospitality extended to international teams who visit this awe-inspiring sports hub.”
He added: “The fact that FC
Bayern Munich chooses Aspire
for their winter camp each year is
clear evidence of the world-class
facilities and infrastructure that
is on off er, as well as the expertise
that is available.
“Aspire Zone’s global reputation for hosting training camps
for major European teams will
definitely open the doors for
hosting greater numbers of training camps in Qatar. Ten international football teams are currently in Aspire, all of whom are eager
to take advantage of its world
class training, accommodation
and entertainment facilities.”
AZF’s al-Suwaidi said, “We’re
delighted to welcome these topflight teams to Doha and, in particular, to Aspire Zone. We’re
fully prepared to provide a wide
range of technical, administrative and medical support. I wish
all the teams all the success in the
second half of the year.”
Salihamidzic appreciated the
visits by Sheikh Saoud and alSuwaidi, and praised the planning and preparation made for
the camps.
He added that Aspire Zone
took care of the team’s entire
requirements from an organisational and logistical point of view
and indicated the areas that the
team will be focusing on during
their current training camp.