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AIA supports young soccer players in Makassar
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Supporting the youth: Representatives of PT AIA Financial (AIA) pose for a picture with young Indonesian soccer players on Aug. 6 in South Sulawesi, Makassar, during a coaching clinic designed to promote healthier lifestyles for youths.
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ndonesian life insurance company PT AIA FINANCIAL (AIA) recently stopped by in Makassar, South Sulawesi, as part of its AIA Sepak Bola Untuk Negeri (AIA Supports National Soccer) initiative designed to groom young soccer players across the nation and showcase the company’s commitment to helping people live healthier, longer, better lives through active participation in sports, such as soccer.
During its stop in Makassar on Aug. 6, AIA provided coaching clinics to young soccer players on the city’s Hasanuddin field while donating soccer balls to them to continue their day-to-day practice sessions. The coaching clinics were facilitated by national soccer player Ponaryo Astaman, who represented Indonesian professional soccer players, alongside Robert Rene Albert, head coach of PSM Makassar soccer club and some of his fellow squad members.
“Indonesia has many young soccer talents who dream of becoming professional players. I am very happy to get this opportunity from AIA to facilitate coaching clinics, sharing my knowledge with these extraordinary children,” Ponaryo said.
“This activity really helps the children further develop their soccer expertise. Furthermore, the activity also motivates them to diligently practice soccer to make their wishes and determination come true,” he added.
On the sidelines of the coaching clinics, AIA also donated 1,500 soccer balls to young soccer players living in Makassar and Manado, North Sulawesi. The donations were part of a total of 10,000 AIA soccer balls it donated to children who joined soccer academies across Indonesia.
Since AIA launched the donation program in March by presenting the company’s global brand ambassador, British soccer player David Beckham, it has been distributing soccer balls to many corners of Indonesia including Jakarta, Bandung in West Java, Malang in East Java, Ambon in the Maluku Islands and Manado, among others, with the help of logistics company PT Tiki Jalur Nugraha Ekakurir (JNE).
“As a company that commits itself to helping the general public attain healthier, longer, better lives, AIA has launched numerous initiatives promoting health awareness among Indonesians. Exercise is an important element of a healthy lifestyle; we would like to support it through our soccer initiative,” AIA brand and communication head Kathryn Parapak said.
Kathryn added that she hoped the program could motivate children to further increase their active participation in sports, soccer being one of them, and to reap maximum benefits from their sports activities.
She added that the program also sought to support Indonesia’s national soccer development.
JNE marketing vice president Eri Palgunadi, meanwhile, said the company had chosen to support AIA’s soccer initiative as it was aligned with JNE’s brand tagline, “connecting happiness”.
“With JNE’s 6,000 networks across the archipelago, reaching remote areas, we are ready to bring forth happiness to children across Indonesia through soccer. We hope our support will help advance Indonesia’s younger generation in soccer,” Eri said.
