Aspire Academy once again provided the performance module for
those undertaking the Asian Football Confederation Coaches’ Pro-
License course.
The programme was run in collaboration with the Qatar Football
Association (QFA) and featured 26 coaches from around Asia.
There was a total of 16 nationalities on the nine-day course that
was hosted at Aspire Academy and featured practical and
theoretical sessions.
All the performance module material was prepared by Football
performance & Science department of Aspire Academy and all the
lectures and practical sessions were overseen by Academy staff.
The performance module is one of four that coaches must
undertake to obtain their pro-licence, which is coaching’s highest
qualification.
The director of QFA’s Development Department Fahad Thani al
Zaraa explained the importance of the course and the advantages
of hosting it at Aspire Academy.
“This Pro-License coaching course has become a prerequisite for
all professional coaches, whether they work in the Qatar Stars
League or other professional leagues on the continent,” he
explained.
“Aspire has several advantages including at the level of player
development, high performance and in terms of resources and
facilities when it comes to pitches, well-equipped classrooms.”
Aspire Academy’s Director of Football Performance & Science,
Professor Valter Di Salvo added that the course is based on
experiences gathered at the highest levels.
“We were really proud to run these 9 days performance module
with practical and theoretical classes all based on applied
situations with several references to experiences on the field
performed by Aspire staff at high international level.”
“Aspire strongly believe in supporting the educational programs
that helps the development of football coaches in Qatar and even
wider in Asia.”
Among those on the course was Syria’s all-time leading
international goal scorer Faras Alkabtib, who was named coach of
the year in Kuwait for his work with Al-Fahaheel.
“We are learning from specialized people, it is easy for them, when
you ask, to give you the direct answers you need,” he said.
Former Qatar international Talal Al-Bloushi, who is now the
assistant coach with Al-Shamal SC in the Qatar Stars League, also
attended the course.
“It was a very special module on performance from which we
learned a lot,” he said.
“Everyone knows Aspire Academy where there are very
distinguished cadres of coaches, from whom we learn.”
Another high-profile attendee was the ex-Iraq defender Salim
Shakir, who also works in Qatar now as an assistant coach at Al
Khor.
“As a player, you may have the information, but you don’t go deep
into the details related to training issues, in Aspire we did it” he
added.
“There is a lot of information which we have benefited from in
relation to the physical aspect, how to develop a player's fitness
and how to recover.”
Other coaches on the course worked in Mongolia, India, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The course covered a wide variety of topics including the
importance of physical performance in football, the different
physical demands need for different playing positions, the concept
of injury prevention as well as coaches' blind spots.
There was also a talk on nutrition that was given by Ms Maria
Luisa Cravana, the Performance Nutritionist for Italy’s under-21
side, who was visiting Aspire Academy as part of the UEFA Assist
project.
This was the second time that Aspire Academy has provided this
AFC Pro Licence course, having done so in 2021.
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