03.08.2014, 08:00
PSG take a break in the preparation

NEWS REPORT: The players of the French runners-up enjoyed a team building week in Qatar

PSG take a break in the preparation

Preparing a new season obviously happens on the pitch and on the run track, but it also requires some team building activities. During their week long trip to Qatar, the PSG players took some delight in enjoying some of the aspects of the local life.

Split into four groups, they all took part in different activities. Luc Abalo, Mikkel Hansen and Robert Gunnarsson paid a visit to the local art museum, before having a go at painting their own work of art.

“I missed all the art class back when I was at school," said the international right winger. "I suspect the organisers wanted to make me pay for that!"

Some of the other players went to a local spa, while Thierry Omeyer and Daniel Narcisse, among others, tried to cook some of the local desserts. In the final group, Samuel Honrubia and Mladen Bojinovic went through a walk in the local souk, before posing with falcons.

These activities came at the end of tough week of work in Doha, enjoying the brand new facilities of the country, much to the players' delight.

"It is great tool, obvisouly," admitted Abalo. "To be able to prepare ourselves far away from everybody, but still in these amazing conditions is a luxury."

These seven days have been useful to integrate the three new players of the squad, all of the international French players. Actually, Xavier Barachet, Thierry Omeyer and William Accambray were clearly impressed by what the PSG had planned for the preparation.

"We're having a great time, but also a hard time preparing for the next season" said the legendary French goalkeeper. "The activities are fun and are nothing I'd ever done before. I've never been that good at cooking, to be honest, even the simplest things, so imagine how bad I was this afternon!"

The Parisian players were soon back at the training camp, and coming back to Paris, they will face an other week of work before starting a series of friendly games. This run will include a high-profile away game in Kiel, for what will be the return of Daniel Narcisse and Thierry Omeyer to the German city.

Photo: credit PSG Handball

TEXT: Kevin Domas / br