Following the highest ever FIFA ranking of the Philippine Azkals at 127th place and the solid growth of football in the country, the Azkals have recently launched a football program for kids aged 6-12.

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines and the official Transport Provider of the Philippine Azkals, went all-out in its support of the youth football program. CAC Vice President for Marketing Mr. Hernando D. Gañac, Jr. lauds the initiative as “another step towards a more formidable Philippine football scene.”

Total Football, a Japan-based football training group, implements a highly technical and progressive football curriculum for the Azkals’ football program. Young and aspiring footballers will be treated to world-class training techniques and methodology starting January 11, 2014 and every week after at the SM Mall of Asia. The training program is also part of the Philippine Azkals’ developmental program called A Project that aims to provide avenues for deserving football scholars, cultivate more homegrown players, and create a significant influence in the Asian football scene.

Gañac adds, “For four years now, Kia has been steadfast in its belief and support of football and of the Philippine Azkals. Kia has always made it a point to help initiate opportunities that will bring the sport to a more accessible grassroots level and also to a global, competitive scale. Now, the Philippine Azkals is once again at the helm of an amazing football training curriculum where the next generation of Azkals may just come from– and we, at Kia, are immensely proud to be a part of it.”

Notable names from the Philippine Azkals were present for the launch ceremonies held last January 12 at SM Mall of Asia. A meet-and-greet session followed by a press conference with players Misagh Bahadoran, Chieffy Caligdong, James Younghusband, and Aly Borromeo; Azkals Team Manager Dan Palami; and coaches Leigh Manson, Jorge Kuriyama, and Diego Sandoval from Total Football started the event. After the ceremonial kick-off, participating kids were then accommodated in batches for the warm-ups, general exercises and training proper.

The launch was clearly a promising and inspiring event for the sport; and the Philippine Azkals and Kia are one in saying that this elite football program for the young is one of the most important facets to developing local football. Essentially, this will bring Philippine football to its full potential and the public can count on Kia to back these efforts every step of the way.