Club celebrates first anniversary of groundbreaking programme in Asia
Wed 15 August 2018, 14:30|Tottenham Hotspur
A year on from its launch, we take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our groundbreaking football coaching programme delivered across Asia in partnership with AIA, our Global Principal Partner.
The only one of its kind to be delivered by a Premier League Football Club, the programme has seen an authentic Tottenham Hotspur coaching team put on 80 free football coaching sessions for over 10,000 players and 500 coaches using renowned coaching methods developed within the Tottenham Hotspur Academy.
The programme, which has so far operated in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam, has seen two fully-qualified members of our Global Football Development coaching team based permanently in Asia to work with players of all levels, nurturing local talent and promoting AIA’s initiative to encourage healthier, longer, better lives.
Our coaches identify talented players and coaches, creating a pathway for them to progress to a professional level. As part of this, we hold elite training camps at an AIA sports facility in Phuket, Thailand, where 24 talented players and two budding coaches at a time attend to hone their skills.
Adrian New, Director of Football Initiatives at AIA, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of our partnership with Spurs and the impact the coaches have had on our business in Asia. The coaches have delivered some of the best training courses ever seen in Asia and have really brought our brand and the partnership to life. At AIA, we want to help people to live healthier, longer, better lives and football provides the perfect platform for us to do that. As well as passing on fantastic football skills and techniques, the coaches are educating parents and their children on the benefits of nutrition and regular exercise, helping us to fulfil our brand promise.”
Anton Blackwood, Senior International Development Coach, said: “We have had a successful first year in Asia and are proud of the impact our holistic approach has made across the seven markets we’ve worked in. We have seen so much talent and are pleased that we can help by giving participants the tools to develop and become better players and coaches whilst continuing to enjoy the game.”
One player that has impressed the coaches with his desire to learn and improve his game is Nathan, 13, from Jakarta, Indonesia. Despite never receiving any professional coaching before, he showed excellent technical skills and a positive attitude and has been invited back to the next elite camp.
Aldi, 26, also from Jakarta, showed a natural ability to coach and, since working with our team, has adapted his coaching philosophy. This year, his Under 13 team won the local league and his Under 16 team reached the quarter final of the Indonesia National Cup – their biggest achievement to date.
In addition to delivering elite football sessions, our coaches also help develop the grassroots game in Asia. Each week, they run physical education and sports psychology lessons to 200 children aged between 6 and 16 years old at schools such as Harrow International School and Kellet International School in Hong Kong.
Throughout the programme, the Club and AIA work in partnership with organisations such as Hong Kong Football Association, Thai Premier League, Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs and charities including the Indochina Starfish Foundation to run elite and grassroots training sessions to their network of coaches and players.
To encourage AIA staff to live healthier, longer, better lives, the coaches have led education, nutrition and leadership workshops for 500 employees and organised the ‘AIA Championship’ – a regional five-a-side tournament for 1,000 employees and affiliates from 11 Asian markets with the final being held at the Club’s world-class Training Centre in London.
To find out more about the Club’s coaching courses in Asia, visit https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/the-club/football-development/global-courses/asia/