YKK teams up with Real Madrid foundation again to conduct football clinics for underprivileged youth

YKK is back with another football clinic for the children. This time it is the kids of Colombo that will benefit from this corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. From 26 to 28 August, YKK Holding Asia Ltd. (YHA), and YKK Lanka Ltd., once again collaborated with the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) to organise the YKK Asia Group Kids Football Clinic (AKFC). 

The three-day clinic kicked off on day 1 with the coaches’ clinic from 3 p.m. at the Racecourse International Rugby Stadium (RIRS). Coaches from Real Madrid Foundation, Pablo Gomez Revenga, Javier Garcia Torres and Jaime Torcal Cano, were the invited line up to share the club’s training methodology and techniques with the local coaches, selected from the local football federation and schools. On day 2 and 3, the local coaches were then given a hands-on experience and assisted the Real Madrid Foundation coaches to conduct the four kids’ clinic sessions. They collectively trained the participants from SOS Villages and Badulla School.

As part of YHA’s efforts to contribute to the society-at-large in a meaningful way, the mission to promote the healthy growth of children through sport related activities was adopted in 2006. Since then, the AKFC has become YKK Asia Group’s flagship regional CSR event; and has been held across countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

YHA President Kosuke Miimi said, “This (AKFC) is an integral program that not only values the children, but the community. This event gives opportunities to those who normally have a lesser chance at sports and brings the community together to celebrate the love of football.” 

“YKK Lanka has various CSR activities from scholarships, hospital renovations, the assisting of technical schools, tree planting and so on. This football clinic further enhances our dedication to continuously contribute to the Sri Lanka society as a global ‘local company’,” YKK Lanka Ltd. Managing Director and Factory Director Ryohei Nagahata shared.

Because of the efforts by YKK, thousands of underprivileged children have been able to get up close and rub shoulders with the Spanish football coaches of the Real Madrid Foundation. For some of these kids, AKFC represents a once in a lifetime experience to enjoy and play football under professional coaches.

Each participant received a full set of YKK/Real Madrid Foundation kit (inclusive of jersey, shorts and socks), football boots and a certificate of participation along with other exciting goodies. To further encourage continuity in local football, YKK will donate all the footballs and training equipment from the event to the participating communities. 

YKK’s aspiration for the program is that these efforts will translate in some small way into a force of positivity in the lives of the children participating in this once in a lifetime opportunity.