Bangkok - June 23, 2017: “MILO Futsal 2017 Road to Barcelona,” the biggest futsal tournament for young Thai futsal players, has just kicked off. The tournament is open to Thai kids and youths nationwide from 7 to 15 years of age. Each team will compete for one of three trophies bestowed by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and academic scholarships worth a total of 600,000 baht. This national futsal tournament was initiated by Nestlé MILO and Nestlé MILO Cereal Wholegrain under a partnership between the Office of the Basic Education Commission under the Ministry of Education, and the Department of Physical Education under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Most importantly, this tournament, which promises to be bigger than ever this year, offers a unique opportunity for four selected young players who show the values of sportsmanship and strong determination to attend a sports camp conducted by FC Barcelona. The futsal tournament’s qualifying round will begin on July 8, 2017.
Mrs. Audrey Liow, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Indochina, said, “Nestlé is committed to our purpose - Enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. This is why we not only focus on developing nutritious products, but also aim to make a difference in the lives of children in Thailand. We want to inspire them to lead healthier lives by providing a breakfast with proper nutrition and encouraging regular exercise including sports activities. By continuing to support the MILO Futsal competition for seven consecutive years and educating young people about the importance of sports and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, we will build the next generation of successful adults and valuable citizens of the nation.”
Mr. Chaiyong Sakulborrirug, Business Executive Officer - Dairy & Adult Nutrition for Nestlé (Thai) Ltd., said, “The MILO Futsal tournament is one of our pivotal practices to promote healthy growth and all-round development for children and teenagers. We believe that sports is a great teacher that effectively helps children learn and develop their skills. Playing sports provides children with strength, confidence, courage, and determination. These are the abilities that they can adapt over the course of their lives and strive for success.
“This year, the tournament promises to be bigger than ever thanks to a partnership between Nestlé MILO and FC Barcelona, which reflects our belief that sports is a great teacher. Under this partnership, we are featuring a special activity in the tournament’s semi-final round in which four talented young Thai players will be chosen to attend the FC Barcelona’s Soccer Campus, where they focus on training young players in an intensive learning program with internationally-established football coaches. In addition, FC Barcelona will send its football coach to train talented Thai futsal players in advance during MILO’s Road to Barcelona Camp. The coach will also participate in judging the four Thai kids who will join the camp in Barcelona,” he added.
Mr. David Carter, Country Business Officer - CPW Indochina, said, “The continuing MILO futsal tournament emphasizes our commitment to promoting a new generation of youth who realize the importance of getting ready to succeed in every facet of their lives. Physical fitness offers another key to success in other areas of their lives. This is why we provide a venue for young Thai futsal players to improve their skills. Meanwhile, we’d like to promote nutritional knowledge and dietary behavior that is best suited to Thai kids and youths, as well as their
parents and families, because good nutrition is important for children to grow appropriately according to their age and to be physically strong to complete their activities throughout the day.”
Ms. Daranee Likhitworasak, Deputy Director-General and Acting Director-General of the Department of Physical Education under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said, “The Department of Physical Education’s main purpose is to promote, support, and improve sports and recreational activities in a more concrete way under partnerships with other organizations. We are very pleased to take part in consecutive MILO futsal tournaments. This tournament offers Thai kids and youths the opportunity to unleash their skills and talents and to improve their athletic performance during their childhood, including elementary school students (ages 7 to 15). Moreover, they will be offered a chance to improve their skills with professional coaches and absorb new learning at an international level, resulting in elevating the quality and standard of our sporting activities to the next level.”
Ms. Walla Ruanchaiwong, Director of Bureau of Student Activity Development, Office of the Basic Education Commission under the Ministry of Education, said, “Encouraging parents to realize the importance of cultivating their children to have active lifestyles through sports and eating an appropriate diet will help them grow properly as they age. This will ensure they are ready to learn new things through their well-rounded development and enhance our nation’s human potential for a better future.”
Dr. Charnwit Pholcheevin, Spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Advisor to the MILO Futsal 2017 Road to Barcelona, said, “Playing sports will help children to become strong and healthy. Sports is also a great teacher for those who play regularly as it provides life lessons through practice, teamwork, and an ability to understand others. I believe that sports develops good people, and in turn, good people build a great country, as sports teaches us how to win or lose with our heads held high and to give our best effort. Parents also play a vital role in encouraging their children to acknowledge the importance of playing sports.”
The MILO Futsal 2017 Road to Barcelona tournament is the biggest futsal tournament for young Thai players who compete for academic scholarships worth a total of 600,000 baht. The tournament is open to children from 7 to 15 years of age. The teams will be divided into four different age groups: 7 to 8 years old; 9 to 10 years old; 11 to 12 years old; and 13 to 15 years old. During the semifinal round, a team of experienced coaches and trainers will be monitoring the young futsal players from the sidelines of the pitch to choose forty outstanding players to participate in the MILO Futsal 2017 Road to Barcelona futsal camp under the guidance of some established coaches. Finally, four out of the players aged 7 to 12 who are trained at the futsal camp will be chosen to attend a sports camp conducted by
FC Barcelona.
The qualifying round of the MILO Futsal 2017 Road to Barcelona tournament begins on July 8 and 9, 2017. The matches will take place at different venues including Grand Soccer Pro in Bangkok (Central Region); MR Soccer Arena in Chiang Mai (Northern Region); Rachan Football Academy in Ubon Ratchathani (Northeastern Region); and Korhong Arena in Songkla (Southern Region). Interested teams can download an application form at www.MILO.co.th. Enrollment is open from today until July 5, 2017. For further information, please call the Call Center on telephone number 081-946-3251 or 02-375-7729, extensions 102 and 115.
The final round of the MILO Futsal 2017 Road to Barcelona tournament will take place on August 20, 2017 at Fashion Island Shopping Mall.
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Notes to the Editor
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 189 countries around the world, and its 328,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives. Its more than 2000 brands range from global icons like NESCAFÉ or NESPRESSO to local favourites like BEAR BRAND or MINERÉ. Company performance is driven by its Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nestlé is based in the Swiss town of Vevey where it was founded more than 150 years ago.
The lineup of Nestlé’s MILO products in Thailand include MILO with Activ-GoTM 3 in 1 chocolate malt beverage, MILO with Activ-GoTM chocolate malt beverage, MILO with Activ-GoTM UHT chocolate malt beverage, MILO Wholegrain Breakfast Cereal, MILO ice cream and MILO Choco bar.
For more information, please contact:
ABM Tel: 0 2252 9871
Titawan Chatturatbhan Tel: 089 528 3525 Email: [email protected]
Thanathong Vongpisethkul Tel: 095 205 5509 Email: [email protected]