"The FIF-PRO Association which was founded by the FIFA, aims to bring together professional football players who are seeking to join a club and to enable them to have visibility for the recruiters of professional French and foreign football clubs. 42 countries are members of FIF-PRO. Every summer FIF-PRO organizes a European tournament. In July 2009, the 6 national teams that participated in this event included the Netherlands, Slovenia, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland and France. After being held in Portugal and the Netherlands, in 2009 SIO had the pleasure of proposing its long standing partner, the city of Cannes, as a possible venue for the tournament which was subsequently selected. Michel Hidalgo in person, President of SIO, drew the lots for the matches. SIO was put in charge of selecting the stadiums where the matches took place, training venues, welcoming the teams, all the hotel and catering arrangements, transfers of some 200 participants. The emblematic Pierre de Coubertin stadium of the AS Cannes with its impeccable lawn was a perfect venue to the 6 teams during three consecutive days for the 2 x 22-minute matches. France won the final against Denmark with the goal kicks. The tournament met all expectations. The level of play was better than ever and the presence of the agents, players, scouts and recruiters that attended the event led to the signing of a number of professional contracts at the end of the tournament. SIO expresses its thanks to all the actors of this event and in particular to the City of Cannes, to FIF-PRO and to UNFP who entrusted us with the coordination of the tournament at their sides."

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"Thanks to the initiative of Sheikh AHMAD, we decided to have our summer training camp in Paris. During 3 weeks from July 23 through to 13 August we were accommodated in a hotel close to Paris which has excellent sports facilities and particularly for football. All these facilities which comprise football fields, swimming pools, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, a fitness centre, plus squash and tennis courts are all available on the same and unique site. Even if the venue is not particularly luxurious, it is an outstanding location due to its numerous advantages to ensure an excellent summer training camp. Furthermore, and most importantly for sports, the atmosphere is very good. The staff is always available and each person is sincerely considered. No-one is anonymous here. Scheduled training sessions are well respected and the programme of friendly matches complied to our requests. We are entirely satisfied by our preparation, in fact, so much so, that we intend to come back again next year! "

Bernard SIMONDI, coach

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« Everything is going well. Tomorrow we are playing the Cup’s final after we beat Qatar Club and Al Saad, 2 major clubs in Qatar. The camp proved useful. See you again soon. »

Bertrand MARCHAND, coach of Al Khor teamr

« Thanks for your asking about us. We spent a good time in France and we play very well in Sheikh Jassem championship. Yesterday we won again and we have a final match next Friday. Thanks and regards.”

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« What was the most important for us during our camps in Cannes and Toulon, was the quality of the logistics, the easy-going and very professional organization. The first friendly match we played in Cannes against OGC Nice was great, the second match against a selection from the French Riviera was just a bit too easy! What’s more, this was all during the Cannes Film Festival, and although we did not walk up the stairs, we can honestly say we got red carpet treatment…! »

Dominique PATERNOGA, head coach

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« A difficult but not inaccessible group. Nothing then is more useful than a training camp in France to prepare this team for the African Nations Cup. Egypt, Djibouti and Malawi, of which the first two will qualify, so now we have to keep up our optimism."

Patrice NEVEU, coach of the Leopards

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"First of all, it must be said that what determined the success of our camp was the fact that we were welcomed and looked after during our entire stay and that the sports programme and the contract were perfectly respected. We really appreciated having Sebastien, who speaks perfect Arabic, with us all the time. At every moment that we needed him, he was there to find solutions to all our needs. The organisation went absolutely smoothly without a hitch. Thank you for this successful camp !"

Abdulrahman, Qatar national team committee

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"We were in Paris for a few days to do some sports tourism and finalise a long European tour and, in particular, our tournament in Denmark. We had a tour of Paris with bilingual guides, a ride on the bateau-mouche, we visited Le Louvre and did some Parisian shopping….a perfect tourist package! Football is also this, sometimes!"

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"Rare though it might be, it must be noted that Nigeria is going international. The Warri Wolves have now progressed to the first division and have played in the finals of the Cup. A year of hard work that has been crowned by friendly matches in France for the first time."

Mike, Manager and Director of the Delegation

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"We have already been there, and here we are again. It has become our annual pilgrimage towards the Mecca of French football at Clairefontaine. After a few days in Portugal and France, we are having this training camp including a series of friendly matches to enhance our experience. Plus visits to Paris and the Stade de France. We had a fantastic time."

Paul BENTVELZEN, tour organiser

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« We chose France thanks to the propositions of SIO. One cannot improvise 3 weeks of training abroad and travel with 40 people without the solid support of such a professional structure, without hosts who are familiar with football players and our habits. We had seven programmed matches according to the request of our Brazilian coach. Another important point was that the liaison officer from SIO was of Mid-Eastern origin and spoke Arabic. It is not just a detail to us. »

Waleed, general manager of Al Wasl club

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« With this training course, we realised that woman’s football was at an excellent level in France. Our short stay in France allowed us to combine the objective of a useful sports experience, with the pleasure of giving our young players the opportunity of discovering Paris. »

Stephanie VAN DER WIJNGAART / main coach of the youth teams

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« Having to make a delegation of 60 people travel to the other side of the globe is no easy undertaking! Thanks to SIO, we were able to stay at Clairefontaine when this sports centre was already housing the young French selections, several other football clubs and a referee’s training course at the same time! For us coming all the way from Australia, it meant "having the best!" What’s more, SIO offered us a visit of the Stade de France, a tour of Paris along the Seine on a bateau-mouche and six matches against quality teams such as the French national youth teams and the Paris-Saint-Germain! Ten unforgettable days! »

Paul BENTVELZEN, High Performance Manager Australia

« To prepare the CAN, I asked Michel HIDALGO to help us with the organisation of our training course in France. I already had to deal with various internal difficulties pertaining to Africa and our local Federation. Not so simple! I also had to gather our players who are based in Europe. SIO helped us organise everything on the French Riviera with the conclusion of two friendly matches against the Olympic Marseille and the Russian Rostelmash team. We really appreciated the presence of Michel HIDALGO in person, who came to motivate our team at the start. This helped us to prepare our competition seriously and serenely ».

Patrice NEVEU, coach of the Guinean National Team

« I got in touch with SIO on the recommendation of a friend who had organised a rugby tour in France thanks to this association. Before travelling to a tournament in Göteborg in Sweden, we had first been thinking of booking our stay in Paris by ourselves. But from California, we were not at all sure to be taking the right initiatives. Finally, SIO took over all the organisation of our trip and booked a comfortable 3-star hotel in the heart of Paris, and the cost was well below what we had initially budgeted. We plan on being back next year ».

Martin STRINGER, Director of the California Tours agency