The Aspire Academy in Qatar has 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.
'Aspire Africa. Football Dreams' was unveiled at a ceremony in Qatar yesterday (April 18) in presence of legendary soccer star Pelé.
Aspire Africa Football Dreams is the largest football talent search project in history and when testing starts at the end of May, 6,000 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.
'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,' said sports director, Aspire, Dr Andreas Bleicher.
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.
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.TradeArabia News Service