Kick Off Your UEFA EURO 2024 Adventure and Watch the Games Live with GCash

MANILA, Philippines – GCash, the Philippines' top finance app, joins forces with Alipay+ to bring an exciting opportunity for Filipino football fans to take part in this year's UEFA EURO 2024. As the premier football tournament kicks off once again, GCash is making it possible for you to witness the action live with the launch of its new raffle promo. GCash is a partner of Alipay+, which is the exclusive Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024.

Captivating millions of fans globally each year, the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament is set to take place from 14 June to 14 July 2024 across ten iconic host cities in Germany, including Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart.

By simply using GCash to pay, whether locally or internationally, users can earn raffle tickets and get the chance to experience the thrill of watching the UEFA EURO 2024 games live in Germany.

According to Paul Vincent Albano, General Manager for GCash International, “We are delighted to announce our partnership, together with Alipay+, the exclusive Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024, a collaboration that celebrates a shared passion and commitment to connecting with Filipino football fans. With GCash, users can unlock opportunities for more enriching experiences, and having the chance to attend the biggest sporting event of the year is just one of the ways we make this possible for our users. Through Alipay+, Filipino fans can pay at thousands of retail stores, F&B outlets and attractions across Germany and Europe, simply with GCash."

GCash is now available internationally, through its partnership with Alipay+, ensuring seamless transactions for users even while they’re abroad. Through its Scan-To-Pay feature, users can enjoy hassle-free payments with zero service fees at millions of merchants worldwide, including restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops, and more! 

The benefits of paying with GCash extends to gaining access to exclusive discounts and promos, including the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024. From March 1 to April 30, GCash users can earn raffle entries for every complete payment transaction made with Scan-To-Pay. 

Payments made abroad earns users 10 raffle entries, while transactions within the Philippines earn one raffle entry each. The official winners' draw will take place on May 4, 2024 with 16 lucky GCash users 2 winning tickets, giving them & their friends who love football the chance to watch the games with them! 

Be part of football history and don’t miss out on the chance to witness Europe’s top nations in action this year. For more information and updates on the UEFA EURO 2024 promo, visit the GCash website or follow GCash online through @gcashofficial. 

Football for Humanity Para-Athletes Share What Inspires them to Become #BetterToday

Community is important in the growth of a person. Like what writer, educator, and humanitarian Helen Keller said, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” This is particularly true for para-athletes, whose respective communities have been their support as they strive to become better each day.

For 14-year-old footballer Jerald Pelonita, football is his source of happiness. “It gives me joy because I can play with my classmates. They supported me to join the football team.”

It was not an easy feat for the shy athlete, who was born without his arms, but he did not give up. “I wanted to be like the famous football players in the Philippines. I continue to watch training videos online and I practice those drills.”

Coach Peter Lim, Jerald’s coach, said that for young ones like Jerald, they enjoy being around many friends. “Jerald saw that there’s no discrimination in the sport. We help them develop their personality.”

Meanwhile, for 28-year-old coach Coleen Faye Grande, who now uses a wheelchair after figuring in a car accident, football became her anchor. A former athlete in a Manila university, Coach Coleen leaned on her family and friends’ support. “It has a positive impact on my mental health. They provide emotional understanding, encouragement, and promote my overall well-being.”

Driven by passion for sports

Despite the challenges, Jerald and Coleen remain steadfast in their faith in the game.

Jerald said his focus is on the ball. “I just think about how to win, how to defend. I know that I can’t do everything, especially with my disability. But I think that I can run as fast as everyone else.”

On the other hand, Coleen shared how sports and her community gave her “so much hope to live my life to the fullest.”

“Sports can teach you valuable lessons such as having a sense of discipline and commitment. Having a sense of purpose can motivate you to become the best athlete or coach that you can be,” she said.

Jerald and Coleen are part of this year’s Better Today: Power Move Project, organized by PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), to celebrate World Mental Health month. An advocacy supported by MVP Sports Foundation and Football for Humanity, this video series aims to champion mental health and wellness through sports and features inspiring stories of Filipino para-athletes and coaches who embody the true meaning of persistence, bravery, and mental resilience.

This initiative is also aligned with the Group’s commitment to help the country achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals #10 on reducing inequality by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. It also aims to uplift and improve the overall digital wellness of Filipinos, underscoring the commitment of PLDT and Smart to the UN SDG #3: Good Health and Well-Being. The promotion of diversity and equality also highlights Concern, one of the four pillars that make up the PLDT Group’s sustainability framework.

United City FC Unveils Esports Division as ‘UCFC Esports’ United City FC to become the First Philippines Football Club entering Esports

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - United City Football Club (FC), the current four-time defending champion in the Philippine Football League (PFL) and slated to participate in the AFC Champions League 2021, unveils its esports division dubbed as "UCFC Esports." This initiative is a testament to UCFC's commitment to be the best of the best in Asia; whether it be on the football field or a professional gaming environment, ultimately, this expansion stays true to UCFC's mission of inspiring the next generation of fans and followers of professional sports.

"The global growth of esports has been tremendous, and we are fortunate that the Philippines' esports scene is growing rapidly, which paves a great path for us to take on this venture," said Eric Gottschalk, CEO at United City Football Club. Currently, there is an estimated 45 million games just in the Philippines, with some of the key titles having over 10 million followers and games participating in organized competitions. "We are very serious about expanding our horizons to a younger demographic, and we set out to replicate the sporting success of our football division, with our esports division to adhere to the same mission and values that the club has already established. We are further excited to bring professional gaming with us as part of our LGU partnership with Clark City and the Pampanga and Tarlac region – a sport that has seen tremendous growth, support, and interest by the local communities."

In their pursuit of excellence in developing champions, UCFC Esports has tapped the white label esports management services of BrenPro Inc, the corporation notable for owning and managing Bren Esports, one of the leading esports organizations in Southeast Asia.

"We tapped BrenPro's esports management services as we identified them to be the right partners for us to create and develop champions which will allow us to emulate our success in football," said Gottschalk. "Their values, mission, and vision for the development of the Esports community in the Philippines, in general, align very well with our ambitions as a sports organization, and we would like to thank the team of BrenPro for their support and commitment to helping us establishing a competitive esport division in such a short period of time."

BrenPro established Bren Esports in 2017; the organization immediately found success and has since then become a leading esports organization in the Philippines who is also known to have one of the biggest esports training facilities in Southeast Asia.

"Our formula for success is that we instill excellence in every step of the way, which enables us to groom and develop future esports champions," said Bernard Lu Chong, CEO at Bren Esports. "We are definitely committed and confident that we can guide and shape UCFC Esports to be a leading esports contender not just locally but globally."

For its entry into esports, UCFC Esports will focus on four esports titles, namely Valorant, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and FIFA 2021, which have been identified as relevant in the current local esports scene. The official roster for each esports title announcement will be made on UCFC Esports official Facebook page (facebook.com/ucfcesports), while a dedicated fan membership and a jersey design contest will be the first interactions with the new fan communities of UCFC.


ABOUT UCFC

United City Football Club (UCFC) is a registered Filipino Professional Football Club that aims to promote and build values such as equality, diversity, leadership through sports.

UCFC is a member of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the Philippines' professional level of men's club football. The Club is the 4x defending national champion in the PFL and the first Philippine team to compete in the AFC Champions League from 26 June to 11 July 2021.

As a mission, the Club stands to help re-invigorate young athletes, families, and the local community through discipline, hard work, and passion. Their ambition is to be the best of the best in Asia - be it on the football field, esports, or within the community - and provide a pathway ad equal opportunities for the next generation of young talent in their pursuit of sporting & educational excellence.

The Club recently announced its move to the Pampanga / Tarlac region, where it plans to set up its youth football academy in Clark City and to and build its football stadium while making use of the already existing stadium facilities in New Clark City in the meantime.

As part of the move, United City FC will be re-named to United Clark FC by the end of 2021, while its Esports division will simply be called UCFC Esports.

UNITED CITY FOOTBALL CLUB (UCFC) ANNOUNCES NEW HEAD COACH

21 August 2020 - Manila, Philippines: Keen on making its mark as a rebranded club, United City Football Club (UCFC) has announced its new top-notch Head Coach, who is not a stranger at all to Asian Football.

British-Australian Trevor Morgan, a decorated football manager, who most recently headed the Bhutan National Team, won a number of silverware during his stint with the Indian Super League — Winning eight (8) trophies across three (3) seasons, including the Calcutta Cup in 2012-2013; and the Calcutta League in 2011-2013 and 2016-2017. He also led the Indian club East Bengal to reach the quarterfinals with an unbeaten record, during the 2013 AFC Cup, the first Indian club to do so.

Trevor served as Head Coach for Sorrento Soccer Club, in Western Australia, from 1997-2001, with the team ending as league champions and cup winners, among many other accolades the club gained for the very first time under his watch. He was also the Head Coach of Sengkang Punggol FC in Singapore, when the club became runners up during the Singtel League Cup in 2007.

Trevor also served as an Assistant Coach for Hull City FC, during the 2008-2009 season, making him the first Australian coach to work in the English Premiere League (EPL).

As a football player, he appeared in over four hundred (400) League and Cup games in the United Kingdom (UK), whilst scoring over two hundred (200) goals, plying his trade from 1980-1994.

According to Trevor Morgan, “I cannot wait to get onto the training field with the players and look forward to working with a group of high-quality players and staff. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to help take an already very successful team to the next level, and I will give everything I have to help improve our team and to further establish Philippine Football as a force to be reckoned within Asia.”

While United City Football Club (UCFC) co-founder Eric Gottschalk says, “His exposure to various leagues: From the English Football League, the English Premiere League, the Indian Super League, Singapore S-League, Western Australian State League, Malaysia Super Liga, to name a few, has prepared him very well for his new role as the Head Coach of United City Football Club (UCFC), which suits very well the ambition that this club has. We are excited and proud to have him on board, especially since the season is about to start. Trevor will bring the necessary experience onto the pitch to immediately get the team as best as possible competition ready, which considering the long COVID break is a key task in itself. We have high ambitions for the local league and the AFC Cup and we believe, Trevor is the right coach especially since he is no stranger to Asian football.

Website: www.unitedcityfootballclub.com
Facebook: @unitedcityfootballclub
Twitter: @UnitedCityFoot1
Instagram: @unitedcityfootballclub
Linkedin: @United City Football Club

ABOUT UNITED CITY FOOTBALL CLUB:

Established in 2020, the Philippines-side intends to be a club of the people, the pride of the nation and a place to live your dreams, with fans at the forefront of everything it does.

BUNDESLIGA: Virtual Bundesliga International Series kicks off in Spring 2020

The Bundesliga is taking the next step in expanding its eFootball tournaments across the world as it launches the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL) International Series 2020. As part of the competition online and offline tournaments will take place in multiple countries as they aim to identify the top players from Asia and the Americas.

The finalists will win a unique trip to Germany for a once in a lifetime experience to compete in the VBL International Final. They will be given the opportunity to meet professional Bundesliga and professional VBL players, visit some Bundesliga clubs and experience the most exciting football league in the world, live.

The VBL International Series will kick-off with Regional Qualifiers hosted in several countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, East Timor and Vietnam in Asia, as well as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, the USA and Canada in the Americas region.

In the second stage of the competition, the top performers from each Regional Online Qualifier will then represent their region at the VBL Continental Qualifiers in April 2020. These will be run as offline events – with one tournament taking place in Asia and one for the Americas respectively.

Those playing in the VBL Continental Qualifiers will be kitted out in official Bundesliga club jerseys. In line with the spirit of the competition, they will represent the respective club throughout the remaining period of the competition into the VBL International Final, which will take place in Germany in May 2020.

To organise all VBL International Series Regional Qualifiers, the Bundesliga is partnering with Battlefy. Battlefy is a well-known platform in the global FIFA eSports scene, ideal for coordinating the high number of participants and creating a spectacular experience across 21 countries.

The VBL International Series is a separate competition to Germany’s Virtual Bundesliga. As the first football league in the world to launch an eFootball tournament back in 2012, the VBL now incorporates the German VBL Open, VBL Club Championship and the VBL Grand Final, which is an Official Licensed Qualifier and awards points as part of the FIFA 20 Global Series ecosystem. The VBL has an impressive track record of over 100,000 participating online gamers every season.

Robert Klein, Bundesliga International CEO, said: “Nobody does eFootball like the Bundesliga. Whilst the last seven years have already been amazing, the last three years have really seen the VBL grow internationally with big tournaments in Chile, Malaysia or India. In season 2018/19 the VBL International Series Qualifier included participants from 12 countries, over 10 hours of Virtual Bundesliga action broadcasted across Asia and over 150.000 viewers. The VBL International Final was covered live by 6 Bundesliga broadcasting partners in over 10 countries. Together with professional teams and fan driven competitions, alongside our gaming partner EA Sports, we have brought something new and fun to the table, something bigger and better than before – ‘eFootball As It's Meant To Be’!”

Andreas Heyden, Executive Vice President, Digital Innovations at DFL Group, added: “Combining the online and offline world of football, the VBL International Series merges the passions of a new generation of gamers and Bundesliga fans around the world. This competition is yet another milestone in the Bundesliga’s success story of establishing a leading global eSports competition, an asset that further confirms the Bundesliga’s reputation as football’s innovation leader.”


About the VBL
As a pioneer in Europe, the Virtual Bundesliga was launched 2012-13 as the first eSport competition of a professional football league. Through the innovative game mode, only clubs and license players of the Bundesliga are represented and used by the participants. The VBL Open with over 100.000 participating online gamers every year and the VBL Club Championship with 22 clubs of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 competing with their professional gamers in season 2018-19 and season 2019-20, the Virtual Bundesliga is the most important eSport competition for EA Sports FIFA in Germany. The VBL Grand Final gives top performers of the online qualification the chance to compete with the clubs´ pro gamer. The annual enhancement of media coverage and the broadcast of the final tournament over multiple channels has increased the interest and reach of the competition year after year.

About the VBL International Series
In the season 2017-18 the Virtual Bundesliga has expanded its eFootball tournaments globally, launching the VBL International Series in South America and South East Asia, including participants from multiple countries. The competition was played in EA Sports FIFA and took place independently of the German Virtual Bundesliga as a distinct tournament series. All gamers played with Bundesliga teams to deliver the authentic Bundesliga experience. The 2018-19 International Series was held in South East Asia and India. The respective winners played the VBL International Final in Germany. Additionally, the International Series Champion was part of diverse Bundesliga and Virtual Bundesliga activities, including exclusive visits of professional Bundesliga clubs, training sessions and visits of Bundesliga games. As the Virtual Bundesliga grows constantly, the VBL International Series 2019-20 shall also reach the next level. Online and offline tournaments in EA Games’ FIFA in multiple countries all over the world will lead to a VBL International Final in Germany.

About the Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is the premier professional association football league in Germany and the football league with the highest average stadium attendance worldwide. The league was established in 1963 and comprises 18 teams which operate on a system of promotion and relegation with the Bundesliga 2. The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries and is operated by the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga.

About Battlefy
Battlefy is where amateur and professional gamers compete in eSports competitions from the world’s leading game developers, consumer brands, professional teams, and gaming communities. Battlefy is the technology platform and operating partner for over 240,000 amateur and professional eSports tournaments worldwide. With competitions across every major game title, Battlefy is where organizations and players create unforgettable experiences and define their eSports legacies.

Follow all the latest Bundesliga action on Bundesliga.com and via the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. More information on the VBL is available here: https://virtual.bundesliga.com/international-series

Ronaldo Nazario: "LaLiga is More Exciting than Ever, Anything Can Happen. It's Undoubtedly the Best League in the World."

Manila, 3 December 2019 – Ronaldo Nazario, president of Real Valladolid, was the most acclaimed figure present at SPIA Asia, an international congress held on 2 and 3 December in Manila and which brought together hundreds of representatives and speakers from the South Asian sports industry and other countries.

Ivan Codina, Director of LaLiga for Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and Australia, Almudena Gomez, LaLiga Delegate for the Philippines, as well as representatives from Valencia CF, RCD Mallorca and Real Valladolid were also present at the event. It is the fifth edition of this international sports industry conference, in which representatives of leagues and federations, renowned brands, associations and athletes exchange knowledge and experiences on sports marketing, international strategy, inclusion and innovation in sport, and other matters besides.

During the press conference organized by LaLiga, Ronaldo was enthusiastic about being invited to the congress and for being in the Philippines: "We are changing many things in our club, and one of them is our international reach. We are starting to work internationally; we want to be well-known and have people fall in love with our brand." He was asked about his reason to remain connected to LaLiga and specifically to Real Valladolid: "I have history with LaLiga, I spent seven years playing in the competition. Valladolid is a very special LaLiga club, with history and a lot of potential. It's a big challenge, and I'm delighted with the decision I took. We will fight hard to stay in LaLiga Santander." Regarding LaLiga's competitiveness, the Brazilian noted that the competition is more closely-fought than ever, saying "last season was tough, I suffered, we suffer, but we succeeded, but I hope this season we enjoy ourselves more and suffer less because LaLiga is more competitive than ever, the clubs are very evenly-balanced, so it's not going to be easy. And yes, it's the best league in the world," he concluded.

"We have been working in Asia for two years and we are more than satisfied,” commented Ivan Codina, director of LaLiga in Southeast Asia regarding the strategy of the competition in the continent. “We carry this out through the three offices we have on the continent and a dozen international delegates. In these different territories we always work with the leagues and the local federations, we collaborate." LaLiga’s representative participated in a presentation on the impact and strategy of football leagues in Asia.

Representatives of the LaLiga Santander teams also participated in a panel on the international strategies of clubs in Asia last Monday. "Asia is a strategic continent for us, in fact we achieved an audience of 18 million viewers last season and we already have 1.4 million followers in Asia on our social networks," Josep Borrell, commercial strategy coordinator of Valencia CF, told attendees. As for Albert Salas, director of RCD Mallorca, he noted in his presentation that "with Kubo joining the club we have opened up even more to the international market and especially to the Asian market." The feat achieved by the club, climbing from Segunda B to LaLiga Santander, was also highlighted. He also explained the club's close relationship with the NBA, as well as the achievement of having secured two consecutive promotions.

As for David Espinar, director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of Real Valladolid, he explained to the attendees how the club had changed since the arrival of its new president, Ronaldo Nazario. "He is not only a shareholder and the president; he is a globally recognized figure who acts as our club's ambassador. We want to continue to open up to the world, get people to know our brand, but we are not looking for business partners per se, we want to make friends who fall in love with us," explained the representative of the Castille y Leon-based club. He told attendees about the club's positive experience last season in the USA and Canada and reiterated its interest in continuing to work internationally.

Once again, LaLiga's great commitment to social responsibility projects was highlighted. Almudena Gomez, Delegate of LaLiga in the Philippines, participated in a presentation on inclusion and new strategies in sponsorships and establishing projects in which she explained the LaLiga Genuine Santander project, the official competition organized by LaLiga for people with disabilities and in which 36 of its clubs participate.

This prestigious international gathering, SPIA Asia 2019, which takes place at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Manila, is part of the activities organised for the 30th edition of the South East Asian Games.

As for LaLiga's presence in Asia, it currently has three offices on the mainland (Singapore, China and India), as well as 12 delegates working permanently in the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Australia, among other territories. In addition to agreements with local sponsors and specific social networks in several Asian countries, LaLiga has also signed various agreements with local leagues and federations.

Kids from Marawi, Metro streets and Batangas lakeshore towns benefit from YKK-Real Madrid Foundation football clinics

The two-day YKK Asia Group Kids Football Clinic came to a close last Sunday with 300 underprivileged kids getting the rare opportunity to learn football the Real Madrid way at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City.

Two kids from previously war-torn Marawi City were among those who experienced the world-class football training from coaches of the most multi-titled La Liga team in history with 33 Championship titles to its name. Children from Gawad Kalinga communities were first to undergo the clinics on Saturday, followed by children from lakeshore communities in Batangas on Sunday morning. Homeless children who live and sleep on streets and places like Luneta and the Caloocan Monumento who were cared for by Child Hope Asia Philippines had their own exhilarating football experience in the afternoon.

Mohammed Faried Anganto and Alintor Bangote were brought by their coach, Espiridion Paran under the auspices of Gawad Kalinga. “Football was one way for the kids to cope and transcend the experience of the past,” said their coach. “It was special for them to experience the YKK Football Clinic conducted by Real Madrid coaches because they learned new skills and trained with professional football gear. They’re used to playing with makeshift equipment, using tennis balls and playing barefoot,” he added.

Agustin Villarama, AVP for Marketing, YKK Philippines was elated about the outcome of the clinics, the second time that YKK Asia Holdings PTE LTD and YKK Philippines have brought the Real Madrid Foundation coaches to the Philippines to teach football to underprivileged kids.   

"After two days of clinics, we are happy to see that the kids are happy. We can see that these camps will produce positive effects for them in the future. Sports is a good tool to give a chance for these less fortunate kids," said Villarama.

Real Madrid Foundation coaches Pablo Gomez Revenga, Santiago Sanchez Martin and Hector Vicente were assisted by 30 local coaches who shared and demonstrated world-class training methodologies and training techniques throughout the sessions.

The Real Madrid Foundation coaches also promoted values through sports and education, teaching the kids about commitment, responsibility and teamwork, all while having fun.

"The coaches were very passionate about the country and about the kids that they taught football to. They also enjoyed themselves throughout. That’s how much they love football,” Villarama added.

All participants in the kids clinic received a full set of YKK/Real Madrid Foundation football kits, which include football boots, cap and socks. Everyone received a certificate at the end of the session. The Most Valuable Participants in the morning and afternoon sessions received Real Madrid t-shirts and bags.

YKK Brings Back Real Madrid Coaches to Teach Football to Filipino Kids, Coaches

L-R: Agustin Villarama, AVP for Marketing, YKK Philippines; Alson Ng, Regional Marketing Manager, YKK Holdings Asia PTE LTD, RFM Coach Pablo Revenga,  Tadashi Koshio, President, YKK Philippines, Inc.; Atty. Edwin B. Gastanes, Gen. Sec. Philippines Football Federation; RFM Coaches Hector Vicente and Santiago Sanchez Martin.

MULTI-TITLED Spanish football club Real Madrid together with YKK Holding Asia PTE. Ltd. (YHA) and YKK Philippines, Inc. pays it forward to young Filipino football players as the YKK Asia Group Kids Football Clinic kicks off today at the McKinley Hill Stadium.

Real Madrid Foundation coaches Pablo Gomez Revenga, Santiago Sanchez Martin and Hector Vicente trained 30 local football coaches immediately after the Press Conference held at Shangri-La at the Fort on June 22 to prepare for a two-day clinic for kids aged 8-15 on June 23 and 24. The Real Madrid coaches from the most multi-titled La Liga team in history with 33 Championship titles to its name, shared and demonstrated world-class training methodologies and training techniques to the local coaches, who will in turn assist the Spanish coaches in the Saturday and Sunday kids clinics.

300 underprivileged children from three NGOs – Child Hope Asia, Gawad Kalinga and a community in Batangas -- will learn football over two days of fun and interactive training sessions from the three RMF coaches who will also share footballing tips, techniques and basic fundamentals with the young athletes. The clinics have morning (8:30 a.m.) and afternoon (1:30 p.m.) sessions at the McKinley Hill Stadium.

The YKK football clinic was first held in the Philippines in 2012, and this second installment once again gives more local kids and coaches an avenue to experience world-class football from the international coaches.

"Our objective is to give the underprivileged the chance to be part of this football clinic. YKK's presence in the Philippines dates back since 1978, and our growth and success during these 40 years owes a great deal to the local society which our customers and employees also form part of. It is a great opportunity and pleasure for us to give back and help create the initial spark of encouragement for children who do not normally experience big name events due to its exclusivity. This time, it’s their turn to experience greatness," said President of YKK Philippines, Inc., Mr Tadashi Koshio.

The clinics draw on YKK’s corporate philosophy of the “Cycle of Goodness”, which states that “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others,” said Mr. Kosuke Miimi, YHA President. “AKFC is an integral program that not only values children, but the community as well. This event gives opportunities to those who normally have lesser chances at sports and brings the community together to celebrate the love of football. We believe that football is a common language that everyone can enjoy regardless of culture, nationality or religion.”

"We hope this clinic will develop more players and inspire other players," said Philippine Football Federation General Secretary Ed Gastanes during yesterday's press conference at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig City. “We are always pleased that the Real Madrid Foundation is bringing their style of play and style of coaching here. We are happy that YKK Asia Group and YKK Philippines have partnered with Real Madrid Foundation for another meaningful and significant clinic," he added.

"Watching local coaches and children engage and participate in a sport which knows no language or social barriers is the ultimate reward," added Revenga, who is Real Madrid Foundation's technical management clinics and international technical schools director.

Each participant in the clinic receives a full set of YKK/Real Madrid Foundation football jersey kit which includes football boots, a cap, socks, and a certificate of participation. Other sporting equipment such as footballs, sports bibs and training cones will also be provided by YKK over the three-day event. Furthermore, YKK will donate all footballs and training equipment after the event to the invited NGO.

‘BUSINESS OF FOOTBALL - PHILIPPINES’ CONFERENCE SETS ROADMAP FOR GROWTH OF THE SPORT IN THE COUNTRY

The recent success of The Azkals, with their Asian Cup qualification, and their FIFA ranking at its highest at 111, has given football a renewed confidence, and a positive outlook in terms of the growth of the sport in the Philippines.

Football is now tipped to become the fastest growing sport in the country, with the largest potential for success commercially, and in terms of on-pitch success.  The sport which is currently number 3 in the Philippines in terms of popularity and participation, after basketball and boxing, is said to be still further behind compared to other sports, such as volleyball, billiards, etc., in terms of TV coverage.

These were among the insights and trends gathered from top-notch executives of organizations such as AFC, PFF, PFL, LaLiga, Dentsu X, SMG Insight, Globe Telecom, RSportz, Toby Sports and Manila Times, at the ‘Business of Football - Philippines’, organized by MMC Sportz.  The sold-out event was attended by more than 185 local and foreign delegates on 18 May 2018 at the New World Makati Hotel.

MMC Sports CEO Eric Gottschalk says, “Research in this market, shows that TV is still the number one platform here in the Philippines, and is the number one medium that advertisers are looking for, to spend their budgets on.  We also learned that live TV coverage actually stimulates stadium attendance, and not vice versa.  If there’s more football on TV, we will see more fans in the stadium.  Currently football is not ranked among the top 100 TV programmers in the Philippines and is only number 3 sport in terms of participation and popularity after basketball and boxing.  Football needs media in order to drive commercial revenues for the clubs.”

“Now is also the perfect time to get involved in football since sponsorship and advertising opportunities are currently very affordable compared for example to basketball, but this is predicted to change within the next 6-12 months, as values are expected to increase sharply.  Football also needs to create more idols and heroes to attract more media coverage overall, other than just covering game scores. Each team has a unique story which just needs to be told,” says Gottschalk.

Following the presentation about the Philippines Football League (PFL) it was agreed that the PFL now fills the lack of regular created football content as the leagues matches (87 in 2018/19 season) contribute year-round stories to keep football in the news. In the past, the main talking points were around the Azkals which only play very few home matches each year.

Public education about the game of football is also needed on all levels as many people in the Philippines are still not aware about the rules or aware of programs available like coaching academies, amateur competitions, or how and where to follow the professional league.  Ten thousand (10,000) qualified grassroots coaches are also needed to satisfy the local demand and to trigger strong football development and growths.

Investors on the other hand are looking for consistency and credibility of the football product but with the PFL in the second season and foreign sponsors expected to invest in the Philippines, local brands should consider to follow suit.

On the sports retail side, only 1.5% of current retail sales are attributed to football, while basketball enjoys a healthy 46% market share. As a result, only limited line items and stocks are available in stores and entry level boots and replica jerseys are too high priced to be affordable for the average consumer.

The national player registration program, MY PFF, has been launched with the objective to collect vital statistics and data about the football community which is urgently needed to support the youth football development strategy of the PFF and to develop a players pathway.  As FIFA has mandated to register the estimated 1.5 million players in the Philippines, the PFF has urged organizers and players to already register online as by next month only registered players will be allowed to participate in sanctioned events.

The “Business of Football – Philippines” conference also announced 36 career opportunities related to sports and football, including positions in marketing, legal, competition management and coaching, with all these listing being available online with MMC Sportz or for direct inquiries with the PFF.

In his closing remarks, MMC Sportz CEO Eric M. Gottschalk stated that “More importantly, Don’t Break the 12th Man! It is important that all stakeholders don’t forget to engage with the fans. The fans are the most important aspect of the development of football in the Philippines – if there are no fans of football then there is no media, no spectators, no players, no games, no business. Everyone is required to ensure we keep the fans (football consumers) engaged year-long and the first step would be to get the media behind the game. There is a strong football - community out there already and hopefully, we the TV broadcasters will take another look at football and give them at least some consideration on the program schedule.

I believe today’s conference was a great success.  We brought the football community together, stimulated thinking, exchanged ideas and transferred a lot of knowledge. Now it is up to the football stakeholders to continue the progress.

From our end (and with the approval of the PFF) we will stage the 2nd edition of BOF early 2019 and hopefully we will be able to report on some of the changes initiated today.”

Speakers who shared their insights include LaLiga Managing Director for South East Asia, Japan, Korean and Australia Ivan Codina, AFC Head of MA Services Domeka Garamendi, SMG Insight Managing Director Frank Saez, Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami, Globe Director for OIC, Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing Miguel Bermundo, PFL CEO Lazarus Xavier, PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Ignite Sports Group Managing Director Michael Reyes,  Asian Replica Designs Founder & Owner Jonathan Mallinson, Quorum Group President & COO Jose Claudio, Jr., Mediapro Asia Director of Sales and Sponsorship Salauddin Sinnakandu, and MMC Sportz Marketing CEO Eric Gottschalk.

Organized by MMC Sportz Asia, the event was sanctioned by the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) and the Philippines Football Federation (PFF), and sponsored by La Liga, Dentsu X, SMG Insight, RSportz, Globe Telecom, Toby’s Sports, Manila Times and Platinumlist.

LALIGA’S REGIONAL HEAD IVAN CODINA HEADLINES AMONG TOP-NOTCH LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS AT ‘THE BUSINESS OF FOOTBALL - PHILIPPINES’ ON MAY 18 AT NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL

LaLiga’s top executive in Asia, Ivan Codina, will be one of the international speakers gracing the much anticipated ‘Business of Football - Philippines’, a one-day conference, sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and organized by MMC Sportz, set to take place on Friday, May 18, 2018, at the New World Makati Hotel.

Codina, LaLiga’s Managing Director for South East Asia, Australia, Japan and South Korea, thinks that Asia is important for LaLiga,  as the Philippines is a largely untapped market, including close to 11.3 million who are interested in football, with FCB as the top supported football club, with Real Madrid coming in at close 3rd”.”

LaLiga has also appointed a full-time representative in Manila since February this year “As with our internationalization strategy, we are adopting a glo-cal approach - using our global experience to help develop the standard of football in the Philippines, and expertise to tackle any local challenges.  We seek to position ourselves as a source of entertainment for the PH fans and engage them with public viewing events and other activations to enhance the entire LaLiga Experience”, adds Codina.

Other top-notch speakers include AFC Head of MA Services Domeka Garamendi, SMG Insight Managing Director Frank Saez, The Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami, Globe Director for OIC, Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing Miguel Bermundo, Philippines Football League CEO Lazarus Xavier, Philippines Football Federation General Secretary Atty. Edwin B. Gastanes, Azkals Team Captain Phil Younghusband,  Asian Replica Designs Founder & Owner Jonathan Mallinson, Quorum Group President & COO Jose S. Claudio, Jr. and MMC Sportz CEO Eric M. Gottschalk. 

The event is organized by MMC Sportz Asia, best known for delivering the foremost annual SPIA Asia - Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference (www.spiaasia.com), recognizing and celebrating Asia’s top achievers within the sports industry.

The one-day Summit will bring together all the key stakeholders of the football community in the Philippines from the rights holders, football clubs, agencies, brands, media, retail, real estate, and of course, the fans.  The overall objective is to educate and to discuss the current state of football in the Philippines, with the goal of being able to determine the strategy to make it the biggest spectator sport in the country. 

“Looking at the line-up of high profile speakers and the topics on the agenda, “football” is already a clear winner.” States Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of MMC Sportz. “We are excited about the opportunity to bringing the football community together as a key pillar of development is knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer and that’s the main objective of the event.” 

The conference will cover topics such as ‘State of Football in the Philippines’, ‘LaLiga’s Football Development Strategy in South East Asia and Philippines’, ‘The PFL Franchise System’, ‘Why Brands Should Get Involved – Sponsorship Opportunities in Football’ , ‘Asian Cup 2019 -What’s next for the Azkals’, ‘Asian Fan Index – Digital Football Consumption’, ‘Youth Football Development & Academies’, ‘Sports Retail Dimension in the Philippines, ‘The Role of Media in Football Development’, ‘Careers in Football’, among others.

The event will also feature a Job Fair, wherein participants can explore careers in football, learn from industry leaders, and get to network with key executives in the industry.

Organized by MMC Sportz Asia, the event is sanctioned by the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) and sponsored and supported by La Liga, Dentsu, SMG Insight, RSportz, Globe Telecom, Toby’s Sports, Manila Times, New World Makati Hotel and Platinumlist. 

Delegate passes are available online at Platinumlist (The Business of Football - Philippines) and priced at P2,750 for delegates and P1,500 for the student pass.

For more information, please visit: The Business of Football - Philippines
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ABOUT MMC SPORTZ ASIA:

MMC Sportz Asia Inc. as part of the Dubai based MMC Sportz Marketing LLC, is a Manila-based sports marketing agency with clear focus on providing specialized marketing and communication solutions to governing bodies, federations, rights holders and brands within the sports and entertainment to the Philippines. Current and past projects include the current roll-out of “My PFF” the Philippines National Football Player Registration system, the staging in 2015 the inaugural SPIA Asia – Asia’s Sports Industry Awards & Conference, and the inauguration of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) in 2014.