Football Qatar

Aspire Academy hosted a star-studded five-a-side charity football tournament at the weekend as five teams, comprising local and international stars, took to the pitch to raise money for charity.

The line-up at Aspire Academy’s second charity football event on Saturday included French players Laurent Robert and Didier Domi.

The inaugural tournament, which took place in January, also attracted a collection of international spectators including legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane and the Real Madrid C.F. team.

Explaining the idea behind the showcase Tournament Director, Larbi El’Bahraoui, said: “These tournaments are not only meant to raise money for charity but to also promote five-a-side football as a sport. In France and the UK it is already very popular, but in Qatar it has yet to become so.”

Praising the tournament former French national team player, Laurent Robert, said: “This was a great event and a chance to catch up with old friends while we promote five-a-side football to young players.”

Former Morocco international, Fidadi Mohamed, who now coaches the U12 team at the Al Shamal Sports Club, said: “I really enjoyed this tournament as it was a chance for me to meet up with players I have not seen in a long time while playing for a good cause.”

Meanwhile French footballer and goalkeeper coach, Wadii Fadly, who is a first time participant, said: “This event was extraordinary as it was a great opportunity to meet with different footballers from around the world.”
The tournament was organized by France’s Elite 5 Event in collaboration with Aspire Academy, Université Paris Dauphine, and BURRDA SPORT.

Romanian legend Dan Petrescu was unveiled as the new coach of Al Arabi during a press conference at the club’s headquarters in Doha on Thursday.

The 46-year-old former international is replacing Brazilian coach Paulo César Gusmão who was the club’s seventh coach in the past three seasons, and he only spent four months at the club leading them to a fifth place finish.

Al Arabi is one of the most popular clubs in Qatar, and they arguably have the biggest fan base in the country, but their last success in the league goes back to the late nineties, a successful decade that saw them earning their current nickname of “The Dream Team”.

Petrescu is well aware of the pressure he will face at his new club.

“I know that Al Arabi is a big club with a big tradition, in the past few years they were struggling, and it is time to change this situation, but of course it will not only be about the coach, It will be a collective work of everyone including the club’s management, the players and also the fans” the former Chelsea winger told the local media.

“I like big challenges, I know the club finished fifth last season, and now we want a better position, I used to achieve that with my former clubs”.

During his 11 years as coach, Petrescu achieved great results with a number of clubs in Russia and Romania, including leading Kuban Krasnodar to promotion in Russia and then a Europa League spot, and also winning the league title in Romania with then newly promoted Unirea Urziceni.

Petrescu, who signed a two-year contract with Al Arabi, admitted that he had many offers from European clubs, and also from clubs in Saudi Arabia and UAE, but he preferred to sign for Al Arabi because it was the club where he felt that he was most wanted.

“They were keen on hiring me since a long time, and they were very direct and serious, II am very happy that’s I am here, it is time for a new challenge for me after 5 years in Russia and 5 in Romania and one in Poland” he added.

According to Petrescu, Russian giants Spartak Moscow and Scottish champions Celtic were among the clubs who were close of reaching a deal with him.

Petrescu, who part of the legendary Romanian side that reached the quarterfinals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, will be keen on achieving similar results as his compatriot Cosmin Olaroiu, who won trophies in the Gulf region with clubs in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

“I hope I will win even half of what Cosmin Olaroiu won in this region, he is a good friend of mine, and the success he made here, was one of the factors that made me choose to go on my first adventure outside Europe, Qatar Stars League is a tough competition, and I am sure it will be a very good experience for me.”

Aspire Academy hosts another 5-a-side charity football tournament

Petrescu unveiled as new Al Arabi coach