Kia mounts successful back-to-back World Cup tournaments

DLSU 18&up team, 10-year-old Scott Mackenzie off to World Cup in Brazil

MANILA, Philippines - It was a pitch-full of talent and promise as young footballers played for a chance to go to Brazil via Kia Champ into the Arena and Kia Mascot Friend.

Non-professional football clubs from various schools and regions came together last May 17 at the Alabang Country Club for two World Cup-themed football fests. As Official Partner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, Kia and its local distributors worldwide will host the winning teams and individuals from both tournaments for a 4-days/3-nights trip to Brazil to watch a World Cup match, live!

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines, also gave the weekend football tourneys a different beat with free test drives for Kia Sportage and Kia Rio hatchback.

Led by CAC president, Ginia R. Domingo, Kia opened the football fest proudly noting the automaker brand’s strong presence in the country’s sporting endeavors. “Kia, both in the local and global scene, has always believed in the positive impact of sports and has made it a point to actively support various sporting events worldwide. Following Kia’s global participation for the World Cup, CAC also took the lead in bringing the World Cup experience in the Philippines. Hence, the Kia Champ into the Arena and Kia Mascot Friend.”

Domingo added, “Our tournaments today will not only showcase the best of young, Filipino football talents, but will also give a chance for these footballers to have an experience of a lifetime in Brazil during the World Cup.”

After the grueling matches, DLSU team bagged the Kia Champ into the Arena crown. Raphael De Guzman, Iñigo Gonzalez, Noel Brago, Jhoguev Ibañez, Hector Borromeo, and Charleston Uy of De La Salle University are now set to travel to Salvador, Brazil to watch a World Cup Quarter Final match. DLSU will also be invited to play in a five-a-side football ‘World Final’ of Champ into the Arena in Brazil. They will go up against the top 19 teams from National Tournaments held in Germany, Malaysia, Argentina, and the UK, to name a few.

Runners-up ADMU-2, Cheval Noir, and Senior Bolieros took home trophies and medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd runner-up finishes, respectively.

Happening simultaneously out on the pitch was the Kia Mascot Friend tournament where young booters aged 12 and below took center stage. A panel of judges composed of football experts and CAC executives chose eight finalists to undergo a final interview centered on the kids’ personality, football aptitude, and ability to represent and articulate himself/herself well.

Efren Austria, Jr. of Tanauan FC; Astrid Ignacio of Total Football; Tristan Dumalaon of LBFC-2; Marco Angeles of Xavier FC; Robert Orr of Total Football; Jil Sander Pillora of Global; Scott Mackenzie of DLSZ; and Joshua San Diego of DLSZ underwent a 15-minute panel interview. Upon careful deliberation and a close tally of the final scores, a 10-year-old footballer from De La Salle Zobel, Scott Mackenzie, was declared Kia Mascot Friend.

Mackenzie and his parent or guardian will join Fuleco, Official Mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, for an in-game, halftime appearance, as well as enjoy a live World Cup match viewing and cultural tour in Recife, Brazil.

The Mascot Friend tournament proper also saw Manila South United (MSU) win a Championship over runners-up Total Football-2, Global-2, and Xavier FC-3. The MSU kids– Jag Manuel, Jon Derrick Nono, Fernando Magallanes, Isaac Comia, Lian De Leon, and Jed Antioquia– bagged a trophy, medals, and premium World Cup footballs for winning the under-12 tournament.

Completing the day’s football fun was a Philippine Azkals footy clinic for kids and a special Kia Speed Kicker installation where participants with top speed win premium World Cup footballs, courtesy of Kia.

To experience the spirit of World Cup and of Brazil, look no further because the brand with the Power to Surprise is sure to mount more activities in the world of football, while keeping a different beat in the world of motoring!