DOHA: Aspire Academy hosted some of Asia’s top young footballers in Doha last week as part of the Nike All Asia Football Camp in training sessions and talent showcases for representatives from some of Europe’s leading clubs. The international training event was an elite academy program that granted young Asian footballers the chance to train with renowned European coaches and demonstrate their skills to delegations from Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Inter Milan. It also granted them the opportunity to meet with their peers from other countries. Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy commented, “We at the Academy are very pleased to host these young Asian footballers. The importance of this training is not only the fact that coaches from renowned European Leagues get to identify the future stars of football, but their visit will give them a closer look at the amazing sporting facilities available at Aspire Academy, giving them a feel of the love in the Gulf region and specifically in Qatar.” Brian McClair, Manchester United’s Academy Director and former club striker, who attended the sessions at Aspire Academy said, “This event has been a unique opportunity for us to meet and observe some of the best young players that Asia has to offer. It has been a real privilege for me to witness first-hand some of the stars of the future here in Qatar.” With Asia attempting to establish itself as a hotbed of young footballing talent, the 60-strong group who attended the Nike Camp represented some of the world’s finest teenage players from 11 countries across the region. By the end of training camp the players who managed to impress the coaches the most, played in an All Stars game. The fixture saw the best 24 players, from the group of 60, come up against each other in a closely-fought 11v11 match at the Aspire Dome.