Allianz PNB Life received the silver award for the “Best Youth Sports Development Program” category of the Sports Industry Awards Asia last December 3, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, BGC.
The global insurer was bestowed the honor for its Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational, the annual nationwide futsal competition it stages in partnership with the Henry V. Moran Foundation and in coordination with the Philippine Football Federation.
“We at Allianz believe that engaging in sports is a good way for children to learn discipline and achieve their dreams. With this award, we are further affirming our commitment to continue to provide a venue for Filipino kids to be trained in the sport of futsal or football under the best coaches, so they can reach their goal of playing as world-class professional football players,” said Gae Martinez, Allianz PNB Life chief marketing officer.
The ANYFI, which is now on its third year, has been instrumental in advancing futsal and football, and in discovering young players across the country. More than 7,000 kids have already participated in the games. Some of them have gone on to become members of the National Football Team. Others have discovered bigger opportunities outside of the country, like Konrad Keim Sollorin and JM Mitra, who were both members of its first batch of winners. Sollorin now plays for Sevenoaks Senior College in Australia, while Mitra is with the Los Angeles Surf Soccer Club in the US.
It has also served as the search for talented Filipino kids who would participate in the prestigious Allianz Explorer Camp in Germany where they get to train under FC Bayern Munich coaches along with participants from other countries.
“Futsal and football’s progress in the country continues, and we are excited to see more kids getting into the sport and showing the world that they can compete with the best,” Martinez said.
This is the second year that the ANYFI has been recognized by the SPIA. In 2018, it received a silver medal under the “Best Sports CSR” category.
SPIA Asia recognizes the achievements made by the sporting industry in the region through its Sports Industry Awards. Past award winners include the Australian Grand Prix, La Liga, Arabian Gulf League, Standard Chartered KL Marathon, and Lagardère Sports, among others.
For this year’s awards held in Manila, boxing legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao received the gold for the “Best Asian Sportsman of the Year” category. Tennis grand slam champion Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, was awarded the gold for the “Best Asian Sportswoman of the Year” category.