ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams - Largest Football Talent Search in History Launched in Qatar

ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams - Largest Football Talent Search in History Launched in Qatar

April 19, 2007

- More Than 500,000 African Children Have a Once in a
Lifetime Chance to Study and Train at ASPIRE Academy


    DOHA, Qatar, April 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- 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.

    ( Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070419/253693 )

    "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." 

    Each successful player will receive the full benefits
and opportunities available as an ASPIRE student. They will
live within the Academy, training and developing their
skills, with the potential to grow into professional
footballers.

    This African quest will initially visit seven nations
in Africa, comprised of Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya,
Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

    The project is endorsed and supported by the United
Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace. It is
carried out in partnership with Bonus Sport Marketing
(BSM), a recognised international football events company
from Spain.

    ASPIRE Africa is an annual programme, with plans in
place to extend the number of countries involved over the
forthcoming years.

    To add to the impact of the programme, and to stimulate
greater interest across the widest possible territory, the
programme will be the subject of a special documentary
broadcast by satellite television channel ART. 

    Organisers and ASPIRE students were thrilled when the
launch ceremony received a special guest in the form of
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, best known by his nickname
Pele, who was in Qatar on a private visit.

    Pele, FIFA Footballer of the Century and International
Olympic Committee Athlete of the Century, said:
"Investment in sports and talent development are vital
for the health of world sport and Qatar has made a very
important contribution through developing this programme.
ASPIRE has grown significantly since my first visit here in
2005 and it is very exciting to see that it continues to
develop through innovative programmes like ASPIRE Africa.
Football Dreams."

    Photo caption: Pele, FIFA Footballer of the Century, at
the launch of ASPIRE Africa. Football Dreams, which will
test over 500,000 young African football players and offer
them the chance of a place at the ASPIRE Academy for Sports
Excellence, Doha. 

    About ASPIRE

    ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence, is an elite
facility that aims to identify, educate and train talented
athletes to compete in professional sports at the highest
levels. ASPIRE provides an exceptional learning
environment, including full educational and recreational
facilities, advanced dormitories, an amphitheatre, lecture
halls, seven outdoor football training fields, and
state-of-the-art weight rooms and physiotherapy. 

    The Academy is distinguished by a philosophy which aims
to develop the whole student, providing them with full
academic and sports development so that they have the
widest possible range of opportunities in adult life. 

    ASPIRE TODAY, INSPIRE TOMORROW


    For more information, please contact:

     Edward Barnfield, General Manager
     WMC FZ - LLC
     P.O. Box 502281, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
     Tel:    [phone]
     Fax:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]