Tribune News Network
Doha
April marked history in Qatar as Paris Saint-Germain and Qatar Foundation led the initiative in women’s sport by organizing the first-ever international girls’ competition at the Education City Stadium.
As many as 20 teams from all six GCC Countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), comprising over 200 girls born between 2009 & 2011 participated in what is considered the largest girls football competition ever hosted in the Gulf region.
The Junior Premier League GCC Warriors Cup Qatar (JPL GCC) kicked off with an educational visit at the Qatar Foundation Headquarters (QF), where teams were given valuable insight on QF’s mission, strategic vision, and values. The visit also served as the ideal opportunity for teams to take pictures of the Doha Skyline, making for the perfect backdrop.
Renown academies such as Juventus, Manchester City and Southampton, to name a few, all competed for a chance at winning the “GCC Warriors Title”.
PSG Academy Qatar’s 2011 team secured the Trophy tournament Final with a stellar performance over Juventus Oman in an action-packed penalty shootout match.
Rasha Mahfoud from PSG Academy’s 2009 team was awarded the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
The JPL is a player development league focused on driving innovation, ensuring that every player benefits from premium football experiences. The Warriors Cup Qatar - the first official football competition for many countries, superseded expectations.
“Hosting this tournament in a World Cup Stadium was a milestone event for the Gulf. Thank you, Paris Saint- Germain, and Qatar Foundation, for making this possible. We look forward on many more to come,” said JPL CEO Martin Brock.
Technical Advisor Didier Domi, said, “Our vision is to empower women in sport. Providing them with the necessary tools and facilities is a prerequisite to ignite their passion. Organizing the JPL GCC is a step in the right direction, and we trust that it has inspired the younger generation.”
As the 2023-2024 season comes to an end, Paris Saint-Germain continues to identify strategic ways to push the boundaries of women sports in the GCC.
About Paris Saint-Germain Founded in 1970, Paris Saint-Germain is the most successful club in France and one of the best clubs on the European scene. Since its takeover in 2011 by Qatar Sports Investment (QSI), the Club has achieved spectacular results on and off the pitch. The Club has won a national record of 11 France championship titles and 48 trophies since its inception, including an impressive 30 trophies since 2011.
Paris Saint-Germain has attracted many big names over the years, including Ronaldinho, Beckham, Ibrahimovic, Messi, and currently boasts some of the best players in the world. The Club has a growing community of supporters on social media, with over 200 million followers, making it one of the largest in global sport.
Paris Saint-Germain is a forward-thinking club that has added an Esports team to its men’s soccer, women’s soccer, handball, and judo teams.
The Club is also committed to giving back to the community and has significantly increased funding for its Foundation/Endowment Fund, with the intention of developing large-scale programs for troubled youth.
