DOHA:Qatar’s U-19 Asian Cup victory is a result of proper and long-term planning, which started with the establishment of Aspire Academy under the patronage of HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the personal representative of HH the Emir, Acting Chief Operations Officer of QFA, Khalid Al Kuwari said said.

The Qatari youngsters claimed the continental U-19 title following a 1-0 win over North Korea Thursday in Myanmar and the minister said the young team, which was formed at Aspire, had received complete support from state bodies, particularly the Qatar Football Association.

He expressed confidence that implementing proper planning will lead to future successes, culminating in a strong national team that competes in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The latest achievement has much relevance as the current group of players will form the nucleus of the Qatar team at the ’22 World Cup. It will also boost Qatar’s confidence of staging a successful World Cup. For any edition, a good performance by the host nation is crucial and the boys’ good show should delight the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, for Qatar’s low ranking has been a tool for critics.