The Real Madrid Foundation Football (RMF) Clinic in the Philippines was launched today, 5 October 2015 at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City.
Spearheading the kick-off was Pinoy Sports Foundation President former Senator Edgardo Angara and Alliance Global Group Executive Director Kevin Tan together with Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta, Emperador Distilleries Executive Director Kendrick Tan and RMF International Manager Rosa Roncal . The event was also graced by Senator Sonny Angara, Senate Committee Chair on Games, Amusement and Sports, and Senator Pia Cayetano.
The RMF Football Clinic will be conducted in two batches in Metro Manila on October 5 to 9 and 12 to 16. Around 180 students ages 9 to 14 and 36 teacher-coaches from various public schools will participate in each batch. The clinic will also be held in Baler, Aurora on October 26 to 30 for 120 public school students and 12 teacher-coaches.
PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta highlighted Real Madrid’s stature. The club was awarded by FIFA as the best club for the 20th century having won 1 FIFA World Club Cup, 10 European Cups and 32 La Liga titles. He reminded the young players participating in the clinic that opportunities in life do not only come in other professions, but also in becoming athletes, especially as football players who are top-payed.
“If you continue practising, giving your best in playing the sport, someday, you can also be the best players, not just in the Philippines but also in Asia. In 2017, we will start with the Philippine professional league all over the country. This is an opportunity for you to be players later on of club teams in the Philippines which can pay you good money. So hopefully by the time you are 17 or 18 years old, you will have a chance to play in one professional team here,” said Mr. Araneta. “Kung ano matutunan nyo ngayong a raw, please do it everyday. There’s no substitute for hard work and discipline in being a good player. Let’s try our best to be the best players in the country so we represent our country later on. Who knows, with Real Madrid here, qualifying in the World Cup is not a too distant future,” he added.
According to RMF, the project is geared towards providing a football program that adapts to participants’ playing levels and aims to connect to Real Madrid’s philosophy, discipline and training. The training methodology combines 80% sport and and 20% values education. Participants will be given intensive training on technique and practical skills, as well developing tactical components in teams, with the intention of creating healthy sporting habits.
RMF International Manager Rosa Roncal emphasised the importance of the clinic to the young players. “You will be training in the tactics and techniques that all the teams in Real Madrid use. But most important is you will be trained in the values and philosophy of our team. Soto, Kiko and Danny have a huge responsibility in front of you. They will transmit to you the values that our first team always defends inside the field and outside the field. That is something that make the Real Madrid Football Club different from other clubs. In our philosophy, it is not important to win, not only only the mere competition. It is important how we win and how we lost. It is important, as our beloved honoured President Alfredo Di Stefano always say, no player is most important as a team, no player is never better than a team itself. You must remember you will be part of a team, you will be playing with your teammate, you will learn how to respect, to be respected. You will learn how important is fair play, and you will learn the tactics and training session of the most important club in the world,” she said.
Experienced top RMF coaches Daniel Landaburu, Jose Agustin Soto Garcia and Joaquin Lopez Martinez will direct the sessions, and will be assisted by 6 licensed coaches from the PFF: Jose Maria Aberasturi, Anthony Albao, Christopher Pedimonte, Ashley Flores, Rodelio Quiambao, Noel Mariscal.
The project is a joint initiative of the Real Madrid Foundation, Pinoy Sports Foundation, Alliance Global Group, Inc., the Philippine Football Federation and the Department of Education.
Also present in the kick-off were PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes and DepEd Sports Director Cesar Abalon.