Nota de Prensa
MAR 22.10.2024
A total of 80 teams and 1,380 young talents have competed this weekend in front of more than 7,000 fans in the first edition of the LALIGA Youth Tournament in the Philippine between 18 and 20 October. This is an important step for the young generation of Philippine football to showcase their abilities at a competitive level. A total of 5 winners have been announced for each age category: with Crocs FC Davao winning in 3 of the categories: U8, U10 and U12. Total FC won the Cup for the U14 category, and the White Team of DLSZ (De La Salle Santiago Zobel School) achieved the 1st place in the U16 category.
This grassroots tournament has been organised by LALIGA together with RSA 1 Group and Epic Management between 18 and 20 October in Manila. LALIGA Youth Tournament aims to become the benchmark tournament in grassroots football in the region through its multiple local editions and to boost football talent throughout the Southeast Asian region. There are also plans to hold a larger tournament at regional level.
“We are thrilled with the success of the LALIGA Youth Tournament here in the Philippines. With over 80 teams participating, this event was more than just a series of matches—it was a celebration of football and the exceptional talent of young players from across Asia. The passion and energy we experienced throughout the tournament were incredible, and it’s clear that the future of football is bright. We’re proud to have provided an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, and we look forward to continuing to grow the sport in the Philippines and the region” said Ed Pasion, President of Epic Management Inc.
"We are very committed to the development of global grassroots football, and the Singapore Office has made the LALIGA Youth Tournament a priority project. We aim to work to the highest quality standards and to establish the LALIGA Youth Tournament brand as a reference in the region, thus we are very proud of the success of this edition in the Philippines.” says Iván Codina, Director of the Singapore Office.
LALIGA, committed to youth and grassroots football
The excellent summer of Spanish football, which has won both Euro 2024 and the men's football gold medal at the Olympics, as well as the numerous titles won by the women's teams this season, shows the strength of Spanish football. Specifically, at Euro 2024, 25 of the 26 players came from the youth teams of 11 different LALIGA clubs, both LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION, a clear indicator of the health of the talent pool that Spanish academies produce year after year to complement the arrival of established stars from abroad. These are the results of work that has been carried out for years in the grassroots football and youth academies of LALIGA clubs, and which LALIGA seeks to export to support the growth of world football.
In addition, LALIGA has launched a new initiative focused on the youth and that is present in all LALIGA’s grassroots projects: LALIGA VS BULLYING, appealing to football's fundamental values: team spirit, unity, collective strength and sportsmanship. Under the concept ‘A team doesn't let anyone stand alone’, this campaign is focused on highlighting an existing problem in society and football's ability to change the rules and to promote football as a social transformation tool.
© LALIGA - 2024