Gatorade Chelsea FC Blue Pitch unveiled

The line from the baseball film “Field of Dreams” is applicable to all.

“If you build them they will come.”

The latest artificial football field in the country, the Gatorade Chelsea FC Blue Pitch at the Ayala-owned The Circuit in Makati, was unveiled last Wednesday, January 15, to a distinguished audience that included Ayala Corp. President Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Makati Mayor Jun Binay and Makati Rep. Monique Lagdameo, and national football team stars James and Phil Younghusband and Chieffy Caligdong. The Younghusbands and Caligdong are all Gatorade brand ambassadors.

“It's a dream come true to have another football pitch in the Philippines with the Chelsea FC Soccer School Philippines (the first being in Tribeca) finding a home it can call its own. With more quality pitches, we are looking forward to developing more kids, and have football continue to prosper and grow in the country,” said James, who along with Caligdong captains the national team.

A happy Phil couldn’t hide his glee about the Gatorade Chelsea Blue Pitch.

“We are very happy that more stakeholders are supporting football. With the Blue Pitch, there will be more opportunities to promote and develop the sport and have more people participate, and hopefully become the sport for all. This is another big step for Philippine Football and on behalf of The Younghusband Football Academy and CFCSSPH, we are thankful to Gatorade and Ayala for the tri-partnership,” he said.

Added Caligdong, “Syempre kapag mas maraming mga football pitch mas maraming opportunity ang mga bata makapaglaro. Tataas ang quality ng laro ng mga bata.”

The Gatorade Chelsea FC Blue Pitch is designed to provide communities access to high-quality facilities and training, as well as access to Chelsea FC's community programs promoting values of education, health and social inclusion.

The Gatorade Chelsea FC Blue Pitch is part of Chelsea’s FC's "Here to Play, Here to Stay" initiative that ensures a long-term commitment to global communities and uses the power of sport to educate and inspire.

"Chelsea FC is delighted to be opening yet another facility in Asia. We have been involved in the Philippines for over 18 months now and this highlights our commitment to the region. Chelsea FC has a huge fan base in Asia and our Soccer Schools and Blue Pitch enables us to teach aspiring footballers the club's footballing ethos through professional coaching," said Chelsea FC Asia managing director Adrian New.

The facility is equipped with floodlights for evening training and games and includes markings for two seven-a-side pitches. The full-size pitch dimension is 64.5mx105m from line to line with two meters pitch allowance on each side.

In addition to the sessions at Landco's Tribeca along Sucat Interchange, Alabang Country Club and King's School Manila at the MOA Area, Chelsea FC Soccer School will hold weekend sessions (Saturdays and Sunday) from 3-5 p.m. beginning Feb. 1.

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Chelsea FC Soccer School Philippines, operated by The Younghusband Football Academy, will hold an "Open House" Free Training Session on Sunday, February 2 from 7-9 a.m. at the Gatorade-Chelsea FC Blue Pitch. For details and free session registration, please contact April at 0918-837-8019 or 0917-538-7589 or 842-7000.

CFCSSPH will also hold four tournaments this year on the following dates:

March 22-23

May 31-June 1        

Aug 30-31

Oct 25-26

CFCSSPH Summer Sessions in April and May will be held at the Blue Pitch.

Field rentals may be coursed through Ayala Land via Rita Cristobal at 0917-534-9948.