Alive and kicking

The Clear-Manchester United football camp finally opens in February. Will you be one of the lucky 32 to win a slot?

MANILA, Philippines - Dream no more, Manchester United fans. Come Feb. 1, football amateurs ages 17 and up from NCR to as far as Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao are invited to try out for the Clear-Manchester United football camp from April 25 to 27, 2014.

Summer is fast approaching and what better way to spend all that free time than to get coached by UEFA-licensed coaches who will supervise the three-day camp? Thirty-two select male Filipino players from across the nation will get to learn a sophisticated system of playing that has produced the likes of former English captain David Beckham, Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, and Man U legend Ryan Giggs.

All this is the result of the newly forged partnership between Clear, United Football League and iconic English football club Manchester United. “It’s a partnership across nine countries in Southeast Asia,” reveals Jamie Reigle, managing director of Manchester United Asia Pacific, during the press conference last Monday in Makati Shangri-La, “But we’re here to talk about the Philippines and that’s what we’re most excited about.”

Reigle’s research dictates over 10 million football followers here in the Philippines — legitimate proof of football mania — so it was only a matter of time before international leagues took notice.

“The football camp is really about using football and the media to inspire young people to live healthier and more active lives,” adds Reigle, “and so with the Clear match and its activities here in the Philippines, we are piggybacking on some already fantastic work Clear has been doing to grow the sport in the Philippines. One of our key missions as Manchester United is to help grow the sport around the world so we saw an opportunity in the Philippines to contribute to that but we can’t do it on our own. It’s important for us to partner with very high quality companies that understand the market and can bring a lot of expertise to bring our program to life. Hopefully, we get to bring in some added level of excitement and some higher level of expertise.”

* * *

Starting Feb. 1, interested male football amateurs can apply by logging on to cleardreammatch.com.ph or by calling 0999-768-4551. Tryouts will take place in the following dates: March 22 (Cebu), March 23 (Iloilo), March 29 (Davao), March 30 (Metro Manila), and April 25 to 27 (football camp).