Grassroots, competitions, and infrastructure — these were the main topics highlighted by LALIGA in their first Extra Time session in the Philippines.
Last April 30, Tuesday, Spain’s LALIGA hosted its first edition of LALIGA Extra Time in the Philippines, an event that aims to share the knowledge of experts in the sports and entertainment industry in hopes of developing the local football scene.
“After seven years in the country, we are aware that football in the Philippines is at a clear moment of boom where the right momentum can take it to new heights, and LALIGA wants to be part of it. For instance, with such inspiring and ambitious projects as the LALIGA Youth Tournament, which was announced today. Surrounded by some of the most influential players in the sports industry, LALIGA EXTRA TIME has also served to lay some foundations to ensure a prosperous future for football in the country”, said Iván Codina, Managing Director of LALIGA for Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
In the first Philippine edition of LALIGA Extra Time, the main focus was “Football Priorities in the Philippines: Grassroots, Competitions, and Infrastructures” and to discuss the many different facets that this topic covers, LALIGA invited key institutions such as Villareal CF, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the Philippines Football League (PFL), and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), along with other football teams and academies, as well as multiple business leaders.
With key institutions present at the event, LALIGA was able to touch on two major developments they have slated for this year that tackle two of their priorities: grassroots and competitions.
This year, LALIGA will be launching the LALIGA Youth Tournament in the Philippines, where clubs across the country can compete, allowing the promising youngsters yet another opportunity to develop.
On top of this, LALIGA has also been proud to launch its new grassroots project in the Philippines, the Villareal Philippines Academy. Having just recently taken its first few steps, hosting a training camp in Alabang, Muntinlupa City this week, the Villareal Philippines Academy aims to tap young talents in the country and help them excel in the sport, which can ultimately act as a program that feeds more athletes into the national team, as well as local football clubs.
Focusing more on the infrastructure side of Philippine football, many stakeholders present, including Rely San Agustin (UAAP Commissioner and President of RSA1 Sports Group) and Coco Torre (Head of Competitions at PFF), shared their experience and wisdom in a healthy and enriching debate about what the future of the industry might look like.
These were just some of the many highlights that were touched on during LALIGA’s first Extra Time session in the Philippines.
Ultimately, this event shined a light on the current state of Philippine football and showcased some new developments in the industry, and with many stakeholders present at the event, this was able to foster collaborations between industries that can hopefully help move the sport forward.
Images courtesy of LALIGA Philippines.
Related Stories:
LOOK: LaLiga Brings 2 Global Football Stars To Play In Manila
LOOK: Atlético Madrid’s Tiago Mendes Watches Madrid Derby in Manila
Stephan Schröck: A Dream for Philippine Football