A YKK ASAO Kids Football Clinic for young locals and aspiring football coaches was held over the weekend at the Old Stadium, featuring expert tuition from three officials of Spanish league giants Real Madrid.

More than 250 individuals got the chance to meet, and learn from, Real Madrid Foundation head coach Pablo Gomez Revenga, Real Madrid U13 coach Javier Garcia Torres and Ivan Garcia Sacristan, an instructor at team camps in England and Australia.

The event, entitled Just for Kicks and organised by YKK and the RMF,  followed a similar clinic held in the Philippines in April.

YKK is a global developer, manufacturer and supplier of fastening and architectural products.

YKK ASAO Kids Football Clinics have been hosted across the region since 2007, taking in stops such as Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

With corporate social responsibility in mind, YKK and the Real Madrid Foundation made sure Cambodia’s young football enthusiasts would benefit from the event just as other kids in Asia have.

A brief overview of tactics, ball handling and especially the social aspects of football was given by the experienced coaches from Real Madrid.

“This CSR project aims to support the healthy growth of children through sports, and we believe football is a common language that everyone can enjoy regardless of culture, nationality or religion,” YKK Holding Asia chief executive Ken Nakano told the Post.

“YKK ASAO Kids Football Clinic enables our company to contribute to the local community, especially in areas where we have set up offices and facilities. This is also in line with YKK’s corporate philosophy, ‘The Cycle of Goodness’, which advocates that no one prospers unless he renders benefit to others.”

To ensure a lasting legacy, the first day of the three-day camp on Thursday was dedicated to training local coaches.

The sessions mainly involved teaching new ways to organise practices, new drills and how to handle football players between the ages of three and 18.

The event was sanctioned and supported by the Football Federation of Cambodia. Federation development officer Keo Sareth said: “[The] FFC supports initiatives that help to improve the lives of our Cambodian youths and we thank YKK for bringing this worthwhile project to the country.”