'ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams'
What do you people think of the 'biggest talent hunt in the history of the world'? It was inaugurated by Pele and aims at finding 3 talented footballers (aged 13) out of a potential 500,000 candidates.
The winners will be given the chance to study in ASPIRE Academy until they finish graduation. What do you all think about the programme?
Good, bad, or whatever?
The hunt is over I think in the 3 years and 5 months that have passed since this topic was posted though I could be wrong.
great oopurtunity for those kids..but 500,000 down to 3.
3 will be happy..and the rest???
DEAR SIR/MADAM
MY NAME IS AYINDE SAHEED SHEEDORF FROM NIGERIA BUT BORN AND BASE IN IVORYCOAST AND ATTENDING SCHOOL IN GHANA. I AM 17 YEARS OF AGE. I AM A VERY TALENTED, FOCUSED AND SKILLFUL PLAYER WITH GREAT POTENTIALS.
I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY IN YOUR FOOTBALL ACADEMY TEAM AND I PROMISE TO DO MY BEST IN THE UPLIFTING OF YOUR ESTEEMED FOOTBALL CLUB. I BELIEVE THAT MY TRIALS WILL DEFINITELY CONVINCE YOU.
I WAS BORN A FOOTBALLER AND WAS TRAINED AS A UTILITY PLAYER AND I WOULD LOVE IF YOU GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO PROOF MYSELF TO YOU AND THE CLUB. I AM A SKILLED FOOTBALLER AND I WANT TO TAKE MY FOOTBALL CAREER TO A HIGHEST LEVEL.
PLEASE KINDLY BRIEF ME ON HOW I CAN JOIN YOUR ACADEMY AND AS I PROMISED TO DO MY BEST IN THE UPLIFTING OF THE CLUB. ATTACHED IS MY FOOTBALL CV FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH AND AM ALSO AN ATHLETE.
I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.THANK YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
AYINDE SAHEED SHEEDORF.
(ABIDJAN- IVORYCOAST)
+22505321023
The centre can bring up good talent in the near future.
But Instutions dont bring up stars. Nadia Commenchie being a rare exception.
Stars Atheletes are those who learns to overcome pain in their life as well as pain in their flesh.
But if they stumble upon such a Star-athelete then he will have the best amenities to practice & develop.
African nations are definiteley getting stripped of talent. My sister (13 yrs) went for an athletic meet some days ago, and was approached to join the Qatar team. I said Nigeria's loss is Qatar's gain.
Yup, i feel the same too. But anyway, i think the African nations will not be totally stripped of talent. When they lose three players (three players from seven countries is not that much, i think), they gain 50 in the process.
Am not glorifying what they do, but what they are doing is also gonna help the others too. I think its a good initiative!
I figure 8 years till they get a shot at making the world cup, but they wouldn't say in the Press Conference what year they hope to make it, just that this is a long term goal.
I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart
It will take another 4-5 yrs in the long term to implement the same.. Cant say with a guarantee...
The kids won't be Arab sputnik, they will come from either Cameroon, Kenya, Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria or South Africa. They will be given full scholarships to Aspire, with the hope that they will join future Qatari national teams. The ultimate goal for this will be that Qatar has a World Cup team sometime in the next decade.
They did say at the press con that they will be coming up with other ways to give back to the communities that these boys come from, whether through training camps or sponsorships or something.
I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart
I guess so -
BTW - on the Doha Stadium Plus - husband had one idea - spotlight on a national team player of the week, different sports - let people know there's more going on here than football
The programme will be an annual affair. Three children who are 13 will get into the academy every year. As for the other children who make it into the final round, they will be given good facilities to train in their respective countries. I think it is a win-win situation for both parties involved. ASPIRE get talented kids, while participating countries get 50 talented kids.
ASPIRE Academy is intended basicaly for developing Qatari talent. These children are inducted so that local Qatari children grow up with better competition from other countries.
I personally think that the cost and complexities involved in setting up developmental schools would be too great...
Yes - great opportunity for those 3 kids - how about smaller developmental schools set up in Africa under the direction of Aspire. Education and sports training with the possibility of a future at Aspire.
I agree that it smacked of PR opportunity too. But well, nobody is doing anything with just noble intentions in mind. There has to be inherent motives.
Apart from that, i think it still was a worthy exercise...
P.R. opportunity
Cant be assured of success just like any other American Idol event and majority of the pupils will be arab nationalities for sure..
Great sporting venue Qatar has become the centre for sports excellence for sure....