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IKOLI VICTOR
Doha
Austrian Football League champion Red Bull Salzburg have completed a 9-day winter break training camp at the Aspire Academy in Qatar with an impressive 6-3 win over Russian League champion Zenit St Petersburg.
Red Bull Salzburg, a team that rapidly gains a sparkling reputation in the European club competition with the courtesy of a fine run in the champions league this season. The Austrians finished third in group E behind Napoli and champions defending Liverpool and sailed directly to Europa League’s last 32.
The world-class training facilities with well-manicured playing fields walking distance from the hotels and stone throw-away from Aspetar an Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a FIFA accredited Medical Centre has already seen some of Europe’s top clubs amongst them FC Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Zenit St Petersburg, Club Bruges, and Kas Eupen hold training camp this month of January 2020.
Each of these clubs counts among their players, internationals. There are some have been on a training camp at Aspire with their national teams in preparation for major tournaments but for many the first-time experience at Aspire is mind-blowing.
This was the case with Zambian duo of striker, Patson Daka and his compatriot, midfielder Enock Mwepu. From the time they landed in Doha with their club, Red Bull Salzburg knew this was going to be an eye-opening experience.
“I had not been to Qatar before, although l was aware of the country and how the 2022 FIFA World Cup would be held here, l have been pleasantly shocked by what l have seen here. This has been one of the best training camps l have had and to have all that a football player needs at his disposal right before you is fantastic.
“The training pitches are walking distance from the hotel and there is a state-of-the-art gym by the pitch side, it is simply a player’s dream of the facilities they have at Aspire. I honestly knew very little about Aspire Academy and having been here, l am well motivated and dead keen to come back with “Chipolopolo” – Zambia national football team for 2022 World Cup,” said Daka, the 2017 Confederation of African Football Young Player of the year.
“You can tell that this place Aspire is on another level- a higher level in terms of training and preparation. During this camp, we had the opportunity to see one of the 2022 World Cup venues, Khalifa Stadium which is just next to where we are staying- Torch Hotel. It is finished, it is a wonderfully built stadium and which footballer in the world would not want to play in the world cup in a beautiful place like Qatar.
“The draw for 2022 qualifiers done a few days ago, put us in with Tunisia, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea and it will be tough but for sure like Patson, my experience in this training camp has encouraged me and l want to play here with Zambia in 2022,” said Mwepu.
The Zambian duo, combined on the field in a friendly match against Qatar Stars League side, Al Arabi to get the 5th goal for Red Bull Salzburg. The Zambians continued their stellar performances in the second friendly match against Zenit St Petersburg with Daka assisting with the first goal. The Zambia duo admitted Qatar had turned out to be so enjoyable and productive that they would like to visit again.
Doha
Austrian Football League champion Red Bull Salzburg have completed a 9-day winter break training camp at the Aspire Academy in Qatar with an impressive 6-3 win over Russian League champion Zenit St Petersburg.
Red Bull Salzburg, a team that rapidly gains a sparkling reputation in the European club competition with the courtesy of a fine run in the champions league this season. The Austrians finished third in group E behind Napoli and champions defending Liverpool and sailed directly to Europa League’s last 32.
The world-class training facilities with well-manicured playing fields walking distance from the hotels and stone throw-away from Aspetar an Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a FIFA accredited Medical Centre has already seen some of Europe’s top clubs amongst them FC Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Zenit St Petersburg, Club Bruges, and Kas Eupen hold training camp this month of January 2020.
Each of these clubs counts among their players, internationals. There are some have been on a training camp at Aspire with their national teams in preparation for major tournaments but for many the first-time experience at Aspire is mind-blowing.
This was the case with Zambian duo of striker, Patson Daka and his compatriot, midfielder Enock Mwepu. From the time they landed in Doha with their club, Red Bull Salzburg knew this was going to be an eye-opening experience.
“I had not been to Qatar before, although l was aware of the country and how the 2022 FIFA World Cup would be held here, l have been pleasantly shocked by what l have seen here. This has been one of the best training camps l have had and to have all that a football player needs at his disposal right before you is fantastic.
“The training pitches are walking distance from the hotel and there is a state-of-the-art gym by the pitch side, it is simply a player’s dream of the facilities they have at Aspire. I honestly knew very little about Aspire Academy and having been here, l am well motivated and dead keen to come back with “Chipolopolo” – Zambia national football team for 2022 World Cup,” said Daka, the 2017 Confederation of African Football Young Player of the year.
“You can tell that this place Aspire is on another level- a higher level in terms of training and preparation. During this camp, we had the opportunity to see one of the 2022 World Cup venues, Khalifa Stadium which is just next to where we are staying- Torch Hotel. It is finished, it is a wonderfully built stadium and which footballer in the world would not want to play in the world cup in a beautiful place like Qatar.
“The draw for 2022 qualifiers done a few days ago, put us in with Tunisia, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea and it will be tough but for sure like Patson, my experience in this training camp has encouraged me and l want to play here with Zambia in 2022,” said Mwepu.
The Zambian duo, combined on the field in a friendly match against Qatar Stars League side, Al Arabi to get the 5th goal for Red Bull Salzburg. The Zambians continued their stellar performances in the second friendly match against Zenit St Petersburg with Daka assisting with the first goal. The Zambia duo admitted Qatar had turned out to be so enjoyable and productive that they would like to visit again.
