Oct. 17th – 19th, 2019 – 5 years after the previous football clinic held in Chattogram, co-organisers YKK Holding Asia Pte. Ltd. (YHA) and YKK BANGLADESH PTE LTD. have once again resumed their collaboration with Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) to hold another YKK Asia Group Kids Football Clinic (AKFC) in Bangladesh for the underprivileged children.
This is the third time the event is held in Dhaka. Three RMF coaches – Carlos Gustavo Albert Garcia, Javier Garcia Torres and Hector Vicente, shared footballing tips, techniques and fundamentals to 247 underprivileged children from six different NGOs over three days of fun and interactive training sessions. They have also demonstrated and shared their world-class training methodologies and training techniques with 25 local coaches.
YKK, who are the industry leaders in fastening products, has taken much thought and care in providing a special opportunity to these underprivileged children whereby they get to rub shoulders with the most multi-titled La Liga team in history; with 33 Championship titles to their club’s name. Dhaka is the first of its edition for the year 2019, before heading to Hanoi, Vietnam in November where YKK once again, will give local kids and coaches the opportunity to experience world-class football from these invited international coaches.
“YKK’s presence in Bangladesh dates back since 2000, and our growth and success during these 19 years owes a great deal to the local society which our customers and employees are also 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 Bangladesh Pte Ltd., Mr. Takashi Miyata.
“We want the youth to have fun; that’s our most important and first goal,” said Mr. Carlos Gustavo Albert Garcia, Real Madrid Foundation’s Head Coach, “This clinic helps them to learn teamwork skills and sportsmanship behaviour from a pleasant and enjoyable methodology, making it an awesome experience.”
Mr. Kosuke Miimi, YHA’s President, commented, “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.”
The clinics draw on YKK’s corporate philosophy of the “Cycle of Goodness”, which states that “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others.” This same philosophy is the guiding mantra behind the clinics’ success and is its main driving factor to benefit the local community at large.
Each participant in the clinic received a full set of YKK/Real Madrid Foundation football jersey kit which includes football boots, a cap, socks, a certificate of participation and a participation medal. Other sporting equipment such as footballs, sports bibs and training cones are also provided by YKK over the three-day event. Furthermore, YKK has donated all footballs and training equipment after the event to the invited NGOs.
