ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams - Largest Football Talent Search in History Launched in Qatar
DOHA, Qatar, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- - More Than 500,000 African Children Have a Once in a Lifetime Chance to Study and Train at ASPIRE Academy The ASPIRE Academy in Qatar today launched an ambitious programme that will provide talented African students from seven nations with a chance to study and train in one of the world's most advanced sports Academies.
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"ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams" was unveiled at a ceremony in Qatar today attended by legendary soccer star Pele.
ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams is the largest football talent search project in history and when testing starts at the end of May, six thousand staff will screen more than 500,000 boys born in 1994 in seven different countries across 700 locations.
In the first phase the best 50 players from each country, identified in the selection process, will go for a week of trials in the capital city of their respective nations.
The top three from each country will then come to ASPIRE for four weeks of trials and testing. From here, following a period of assessment and discussions with the families, the most talented players will be enrolled into the ASPIRE Academy.
Dr. Andreas Bleicher, Sports Director at ASPIRE said: "This is an incredible opportunity for talented young African boys to reach the heights of international football in the future, as well as for ASPIRE's football players to be inspired in their daily training programme by outstanding international talents. This is a huge boost especially for the Qatari football talents as well.
"Everyone in football is aware of the significant talent that exists in Africa, and also of the challenges that can prevent this talent reaching its full potential. ASPIRE will offer a new window of opportunity for those players who have the talent and dedication necessary to succeed at the highest levels of professional football."
Through ASPIRE's scholarships, opportunities to study at the Academy have already been extended to talented students from countries as diverse as Ghana, Senegal, Comoros and Cameroon.
ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams is designed to take this process to the next level, according to Dr. Thomas Flock, Director General of ASPIRE: "This programme will become a recognised path to development for young African footballers. The youth football programme offered here is among the most advanced in the world, and successful applicants will have the chance to earn a place in the ASPIRE teams, receiving exposure to the international standards of talent and application we expect at the Academy."
