For the first time, Dubai hosted the winter camp for Juventus, Italy’s third oldest football club, ahead of the much-awaited championship in the Italian city of Lecce on January 8, wherein they will take on the defending champions and current Serie A leaders, AC Milan, which also conducted its winter training camp in Dubai in cooperation with Dubai sports council .
The six-day Juventus winter camp was the first of the two-phased training programme conducted by the Italian footballers in Dubai. On January 5th, Juventus will play a friendly with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Riyadh.
At the end of the game, they will return to the Italian city of Lecce, and will continue their preparation in Puglia. On January 8, the clash against the side from Salento will occur at Via del Mare stadium, valid for the 17th championship game.
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) assisted the Juventus FC in selecting the hotel (The Meydan Dubai) and provided the transportation and other logistics support in cooperation with Dubai sports council .
In addition, DTCM coordinated with the Dubai Police, Dubai Customs, Dubai Airports and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) for the successful hosting of the Juventus group which came close on the heels of the fourth edition of Dubai Football Challenge.
The DTCM Executive Director for Business Tourism, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, said Juventus team’s selection of Dubai for the winter camp was another feather in Dubai’s cap and came at a time when the emirate hosted the Dubai Football Challenge wherein AC Milan team took time off their annual winter training camp to play a match with Paris Saint-Germain football club (PSG) at Al Ahli Football Club, Rashid Stadium.
Recalling the history of winter camps conducted by European football clubs in Dubai, he said Dubai has remained a sough-after destination for winter camps by European football clubs given its world-class infrastructure, air connectivity and facilities for football and other sports.
“Football in our country has such a tremendous fan base and people across the emirates enjoyed seeing these world-class teams up close. It was the best thing to happen in the sporting calendar at the end of 2011 and start of 2012,” said Mr. Hamad bin Mejren who addressed a Press conference at The Meydan Hotel.
Also present at the Media gathering were Antonio Conte, Juventus Coach, Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus player, Francesco Calvo, commercial and marketing director of Juventus and Rashid Alkamali Director of Marketing&Promotions at Dubai Sports Council.
Mr. Hamad thanked Juventus management and team for choosing Dubai and refusing an offer for holding the winter camp in Miami in the US.
Founded in 1897, Juventus is the first to be managed professionally in Italy from its association with the industrial Agnelli family in 1923, constituting the first sporting partnership in the country.
The club’s contribution to the national team, uninterrupted since the second half of 1920s, is recognised as one of the most influential in international football. Juventus’ fan base is said to be larger than any other Italian club and is one of the largest worldwide.
Juve, as one of European football’s behemoths is commonly known, had 26 members squad undergo the back-breaking winter training in Dubai with only a short break for New Year festivities.
The group had started their session, dealing with a technical warm-up followed by the usual circle drill before moving to the gym.
They also focused on a series of ball passages, then on light running and fitness exercises, and finally on the habitual circle drill. Then, the groups took turns in the weight room, and all players got on the pitch again being still involved with various running exercises and direction shifts.
Dubai’s warm temperature compared with the freezing climate in Europe makes it an ideal place and time for footballers to recharge their batteries and get ready to take on competitive football in 2012.
