Football has long been known as a sport for men, with intense matches and action-packed games on the field. But for the Philam Life 7’s Football League, this is definitely not the case. Founded by former Philippine Azkals’ player Anton del Rosario, the league opened its doors to women and youth leagues during the start of its fourth season early this year.
“I saw a huge gap in the football market in the Philippines and it has been my personal advocacy to bridge this and make the sport inclusive so more people will have an opportunity to grow with it. Hopefully, what I’m doing sets up a good foundation for the sport here in the country,” said Del Rosario. From 8 men’s teams in its first season, the league grew exponentially to a total of 66 teams on its fourth season: 22 men’s, 12 women’s, and 32 youth teams.
“I’m delighted to be part of this league which has been very welcoming since day one. It’s exciting to know that you get to train and play alongside fellow players who share the same passion,” said local TV personality and women’s league player Amanda Fernandez.
There has been a growing appreciation for football among the local youth in the last decade, aspiring to become football superstars like local heroes del Rosario himself and other former Philippine Azkal players Aly Borromeo and Armand del Rosario, or international inspiration David Beckham. With former local players and celebrities playing in the league, it serves as a perfect avenue for them to learn the ins and outs of the sport straight from players they look up to.
“Football is an all-inclusive sport and we’re excited to witness its rapid growth in area and participation as it has become a strong platform for us to fulfill our brand promise,” shared Kelvin Ang, AIA Philam Life Chief Executive Officer. “Through our strong partnership with the League, we are able to reach more people with football as the platform that enable us to help more Filipinos live Healthier, Longer, and Better Lives,” he added.
Currently, the Philam Life 7’s Football League is present in four cities—Manila, Davao, Cebu, and Bacolod. Its fourth season is set to end by December 14.
Aside from the regular season, the Philam Life 7’s Football League have their hands busy on other programs. They recently concluded an all-star football tournament, the Kampeon Cup, and played on the field alongside AIA global ambassador David Beckham during a Youth Football Clinic in October. The league is currently gearing up to join a big ASEAN competition in February 2020.
The future surely looks bright for the league, and will continue to be stronger with AIA Philam Life’s support at hand.
Know more about AIA Philam Life by visiting their website at philamlife.com, Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AIAPhilamLife/, emailing philamlife@aia.com.
