Young booters gets dose of Real Madrid training

MANILA, Philippines - Coaches from the Real Madrid Foundation will give Pinoy Cristiano Ronaldo-wannabes a taste of the training program of the renowned Spanish club with a series of football clinics at McKinley Hill Stadium and in Baler, Aurora this month.

Real Madrid coaches Daniel Landaburu, Jose Agustin Soto Garcia and Joaquin Lopez Martinez, along with their assistant coaches, are in town to conduct the clinics, an undertaking of the Alliance Global Group, Inc. and PinoySports Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation and the Department of Education.

The sessions are scheduled at Oct. 5-9 and Oct. 12-16 at McKinley Hill Stadium with around 360 students as well as 36 local coaches taking part. After this, the group will conduct session on Oct. 19-23 and Oct. 26-30 in Baler, Aurora for an estimated 120 students and 12 coaches.

“We’re honored to be hosting the football clinics at McKinley Hill Stadium, the country’s first modern football stadium. We’re confident with this facility along with the training and guidance that will be provided by Real Madrid’s coaches, these young Filipino football players will learn football the Real Madrid way, in the culture of champions and their winning traditions,” said AGI executive director Kevin Tan during yesterday’s launch.

Tan joined RM Foundation international manager for social projects Rosa Roncal, Emperador Distilleries executive director Kendrick Tan, PinoySports Foundation president and former senator Edgardo Angara, PFF president Nonong Araneta and general-secretary Ed Gastanes, DepEd exec Cesar Abalon and Sen. Sonny Angara in the ceremonial kick-off.

Roncal said the clinics aim to impart not only the tactics of Real Madrid but also the values and philosophies the club espouses.

“As our beloved owner-president said, no player is more important than the club, no player is better than the team itself. You must remember you will be part of the team, play with teammates, learn how to respect and be respected, learn importance of fair play, learn the tactics and techniques of the most important club in the world,” Roncal told the kids.

Angara arranged for the signing of an agreement with Real Madrid officials during a visit to Spain.

“Football is not just physical exercise, it’s values-formation. We chose Real Madrid because of its unique philosophy – that it’s not simply about winning or playing that counts but it’s teamwork and cooperation,” he said.

PFF chief Araneta said the clinics will help continue the growth of football in the country and also help prepare the kids for possible careers especially with the nationwide Philippine Professional League set to be launched in 2017.