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QFA Continues Cooperation with Italian Counterpart in Aspire Academy as Part of UEFA Program

QFA Continues Cooperation with Italian Counterpart in Aspire Academy as Part of UEFA Program

Alkass Digital

As part of the ongoing UEFA Assist program, Aspire Academy hosted two guests from the Italian football federations (FIGC) coaching staff.

The Academy welcomed Marco Montini, the Fitness Coach for Italy's under-19 national team, and Maria Luisa Cravana, Performance Nutritionist for Italy's under-21 side.

The UEFA Assist project matches European football federations with ones from the rest of the world to help develop the sport through the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

The program has seen the Qatar Football Association (QFA) working with the FIGC since 2019.

Thanks to the QFA and Aspire Academy's working relationship, Montini and Cravana spent time at the academy exchanging ideas and giving talks to coaches and staff.

Montini spent time with the Academy's under-15 squad as they undertook a strength and conditioning workout.

He also made a presentation to QFA/Aspire Academy staff about the activities he plans for the Italian under-19 squad as they prepare for the next Under-19 European Championship.

He was full of praise for the cooperation between the two football associations as well as Aspire Academy as hosts.

"It has been a great exchange of knowledge and I have had the opportunity to see the incredible facilities," Montini said.

"But the facilities alone are not enough, and you also have very great professionals like the conditioning coaches, physiologists, psychologists, nutritionists," he added.

As part of her visit, Cravana gave a talk on nutrition to coaches who are at Aspire Academy undertaking the performance module of their Asian Football Confederation Coaches Pro-Licence course.

She also said she would be returning to Italy with new ideas to share with her colleagues.

"It was also for me, a great experience and I enriched my knowledge in general, in performance, in nutrition and strategically," she explained.

"It is a wonderful facility that does important work to guarantee very high quality and high caliber football," she added.

The visit is one of several exchanges that have been planned for 2023 and follows a visit from the Italian National football teams fitness coach, Claudio Donatelli in January.