Valencia CF and LaLiga to link up to organise the 'Singapore Football Festival'

LaLiga and Valencia CF are to work together on developing and running the Singapore Football Festival, to take place in the summer of 2017. The initiative also enjoys the support of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). 

An agreement to co-organise this event was announced at the Singapore Sports Institute at a ceremony attended by Sergi Torrents, LaLiga's country manager in China; Lay Hoon Chan, the chairwoman of Valencia CF; Peter Draper, the club's commercial and marketing director; and the Liga BBVA ambassadors Gaizka Mendieta and David Albelda. Also present were the Valencia first-team players Mathew Ryan, Jaume Domenech, Santi Mina and Javi Fuego; the club's head coach, Pako Ayestaran; FAS technical director Michel Sablon; Singapore Sports Hub CEO Manu Sawhney; and directors from the Singapore and Spanish tourist boards. 

Sergi Torrents, LaLiga's country manager in China, stated that, "Valencia CF are one of the most important clubs in Spain and we're delighted to join forces with them to develop this unprecedented, exciting new initiative." He also highlighted the important role that Valencia, with their highly talented squad of professionals, can play in supporting local and grassroots football: "It's an excellent combination and we believe it will also lead to a growth in interest in the sport in Singapore," he concluded. David Albelda, meanwhile, noted that in the Spanish competition, "We are already seeing the introduction of optimal schedules for people in Asia to follow LaLiga" and reminded people that both the Mestalla-based club and LaLiga "can go much further by working together." Gaizka Mendieta assured that it is "vitally important for all of the actions that LaLiga performs as an institution to be reinforced by the clubs" and also stressed "the influence of Singapore in Asia and how important this project could become." 

Proof of the interest in promoting football in the country is the agreement signed by the Valencia chairwoman, Lay Hoon Chan, with Geylang International FC to establish a Valencia academy in the country. Lay Hoon Chan also emphasised that, "this is just the beginning of a close relationship with LaLiga." Meanwhile, Peter Draper, the Valencia commercial and marketing director, stressed that, "We intend to develop a series of initiatives over the course of this year, as well as to support other football events and conclude with a visit to Singapore by our first team to play at least one match next summer." He went on to say that they see the initiative "as an opportunity to celebrate here in Singapore, in our own way, what Pele called the beautiful game, by encouraging participation, developing excellence and celebrating successes." 

The first-team delegation, headed by coach Pako Ayestaran alongside the players Mathew Ryan, Javi Fuego, Santi Mina and Jaume Domenech, also had time to visit one of the oldest districts of Singapore and enjoy playing a match with some of the younger citizens. The entire travelling party got to see how some of the humblest families in the area live and bring a glimmer of joy to the Bukit Ho Swee district.