YKK Holding Asia Private Limited, together with YKK Lanka successfully kicked off the third edition of the YKK Asao Kids Football Clinic (YKK AKFC) in alliance with the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF).
The event is taking place from 27-29 August at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo, with the support of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Since its inception 18 years ago, the YKK AKFC program has reached children in over 12 nations across Asia, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam to name a few.
With a solid focus on bringing joy and memorable learning experiences through football, the programme has positively impacted over 7500 underprivileged children to date.
According to the organisers this year, the clinic welcomed over 300 children from orphanages and underserved communities, alongside over 30 Sri Lankan football coaches.
The organisation worked closely with local partners to identify children from underprivileged backgrounds, prioritising those aged eight to 17 with limited access to sports programmes.
Younger children (eight-12) had learnt basic techniques and built a love for the sport, while older participants (13-17 years) had refined their skills and understood strategy and sportsmanship.
Local coaches had been selected for their active involvement in youth football and their potential to continue teaching after the clinic, ensuring the program’s long-term impact.
The coaches from the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) had brought a unique and engaging methodology that focussed on technical skills, while also ensuring the sessions were fun and meaningful for the children.
Through the structured play and professional guidance, the children were encouraged to learn beyond the game itself-developing key values such as teamwork, confidence, discipline, and resilience.
For local coaches, it offered a professional development opportunity through exclusive sessions with RMF professionals.
The knowledge and techniques they gained could be applied long after the clinic, benefitting local communities and future generations of players.
To ensure continuity, all the footballs and training equipment used during the clinic were donated to NGOs and schools involved, thereby allowing the children to continue the game and develop important skills even after the clinic, with the help of the local coaches trained by the RMF.
The press conference held in this connection at the Racecourse Grounds, was attended by YHA President Kazuto Daimon, YKK Lanka MD Kei Tanaka, YKK Lanka GM Raushan Azim and RMF Area Manager (Camps and Clinics) Andres Borrajo, along with representatives from the FFSL and the Sports Ministry.