Allianz Renews Partnership With 4-Time PFL Champion United City Football Club

Allianz PNB Life and the United City Football Club (UCFC) look forward to another year of partnership after the renewal of their contract last March 14, Monday.

“Allianz is very proud to be working with UCFC again, one of the best Filipino football teams in the country,” said Alexander Grenz, President and CEO of Allianz PNB Life. “Globally, we remain dedicated to celebrating the exciting sport of football, and we believe that this partnership will help us in reaching more Filipinos and encouraging a deeper, more fervent interest in this sport.”

Established in 2021, the UCFC is the four-time reigning champion of the Philippines Football League (PFL), one of the most prestigious professional football leagues in the country. The team also became the first Filipino club to enter the group stages of the AFC Champions League in 2021, winning against the Chinese Super League powerhouse Beijing FC with a score of 3:2.

United City FC to Compete In the First Regional eFootball Tournament - Champions eFootball (CeF)

The top eight Southeast Asian Football clubs from seven countries will be competing to be crowned champion in the first regional eFootball tournament - Champions eFootball (CeF) beginning 9th September to 7th October 2021. The confirmed participating teams in the eFootball competition include:

Competing on KONAMI’s eFootball PES 2021 Season Update via Playstation 4, the teams will be vying for the title along with a combined prize pool of USD 9,000. Starting 9th September for 5 consecutive weeks, the competition will be live-streamed on CeF’s official Facebook and Youtube channel.

United City FC Secures Major Jersey Partnership With Allianz

United City Football Club (UCFC) proudly announces its jersey partner for the upcoming AFC Champions League and the 2021 Philippine Football League (PFL).  

"We are proud to announce this ground-breaking partnership with Allianz for our Club.  Not only were we able to bring such a leading global brand with a strong reputation to engage in long-term sports partnerships but also because it shows that football partnerships are possible in the Philippines – even amidst a global pandemic," states Eric M. Gottschalk, President, and Co-founder of United City Football Club. 

"Football has been steadily on the rise in the country, and having Allianz support our Club might be just the attention-getter for other brands to support local and regional football."

Allianz is best known for its global stadium naming rights and Club partnership with FC Bayern as well as Juventus Turin. Still, its involvement in sports goes well beyond just football when it is set to become the Worldwide Olympic Insurance Partner following the Tokyo Olympic Games.  

United City Football Club launches logo competition for Fans

Winning design receives Pesos 10,000 in cash with fans receiving a personalized jersey

True to the commitment to connect and engage with the fans, United City Football Club, the defending champion of the Philippines Football League, is reaching out to artists to submit and for fans to vote on its new logo design.

“The prize money competition will allow the fans to have a say on what the crest, the most important part of a Clubs identity, will look like”, states CEO Eric M. Gottschalk. “We will strive for tolerance, excellence while creating a place for people to live out their dreams – a true Club for the People – it’s a long road ahead but we see this as a marathon and not a sprint”.

The growing interest of Filipinos in football as a sport rages on and is steadily rising.

A few years ago, Philippine Azkals successfully instilled football awareness and captured the attention, hearts and minds of basketball-loving Pinoys. Since then, the success of Azkals propelled football as the fastest growing sport in the country giving birth to football clinics and camps for the youth and community. Similarly, Filipinos also recently caught the “World Cup fever” with enthusiasts staying up in the wee hours of the morning or heading to the nearest sports bar to root for their favorite teams. 

Nald: A kid with big ambitions

A small town kid with big ambitions, this is what best describes 17-year old Ronaldo “Nald” Dapena who is one of the members of the Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association (CAVRAA) football team. He came from San Antonio, Delfin Albano, Isabela, which is considered as one of the poorest barrios in the area. The third of five siblings, Nald’s father works as a farmer while his mother works part-time at a local bakery. 

“Medyo mahirap din po ang buhay namin pero kahit paano po nakakaraos naman po kami sa pang araw-araw at kung may pagkakataon, tumutulong din po ako sa aking ama sa bukid,” says Nald.

Aware of their difficulties in life, Nald often finds solace in playing the sport he fell in love with at a young age, “Ten years old pa lang, naglalaro na ako ng football at madalas akong sumali sa Intramurals sa school. Nakapaglaro na din po ako sa mga Provincial Meets. Doon po ako nadiskubre ng coach po namin ngayon na si Mr. Alexander Tabubuca," says Nald.

REEL DEAL: Highly Unique And Original World of “FOOSBALL: THE UNBEATABLES” OPENS Today!

Academy Award winner Juan Jose Campanella brings the highly-spirited action animation “Foosball: The Unbeatables” to life collaborating with a lot of talented people to produce a family movie that has a worldwide, relatable appeal. 

“Foosball: The Unbeatables” follows the journey of Amadeo (voiced by Rupert Grint), a small-town kid with great kids as a foosball player.   As he grows older, this is the only true ability he has developed.   But soon enough, Amadeo finds himself leaving his comfort zone – his foosball table and the bar he works for when he has to put together a team of unlikely heroes who would be willing to recover their village and its people when it is in danger; but above all, it’s about defending their honor.

REEL DEAL: Meet The Unbeatable Team In “FOOSBALL”

“Foosball: The Unbeatables” is a highly-unique animated movie for all the family by Academy Award winner Juan José Campanella and supervised by animation expert Sergio Pablos who also supervised hit animation movies such as “Rio” and “Despicable Me “.

In “Foosball,” an unlikely hero - Amadeo (voiced by Rupert Grint) lives in a small and anonymous village who works at a bar and plays foosball better than anyone.   He is also in love with Laura, his childhood friend though she does not know it.  His simple routine comes crumbling down when Ace, a young man from the village that became the world’s best football player, comes back willing to have his revenge for the only defeat he ever suffered.  With his foosball table, hi s bar and even his table destroyed, Amadeo discovers something magical: the players of his beloved foosball table came to life!  Together, as a team they embark on a journey full of adventure to save their village. 

REEL DEAL: Soccer Fever Hits The High With "FOOSBALL” TEASER TRAILER RELEASE

Axinite Digicinema releases the local version of "Foosball" trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekt7n_6Ku6Y

Known as "Metegol" in Spanish-Argentine, "Foosball" is about a geeky kid named Amadeo whose foosball figures come to life and help him take on a professional soccer team, in order to save his town and win back the respect of the love of his life. 

AZKALS: Celebrating challenges and inspiring victories!

Hailed by football enthusiasts as the “Saviour of Philippine Football”, the Team Azkals has proven that Filipinos have so much to celebrate about the sport, as they play from one glory to another.

As of June 4, the Azkals had again set forth to take on a number of international challenges in the football arena. Starting with a win at a pitch in Hong Kong, they continue their journey to fulfilling the grandest achievement in the history of the sport – to compete against and level with the best football teams all over the world, as they carry the nation’s flag.

Perceived by its followers as the “beautiful sport”, playing football develops abilities that show agility, strength, speed, and grace – qualities that are inherent in the Azkals. As the local interest for the game rapidly grows, young athletes are realizing that, like the country’s foremost players, they too are made for playing and excelling in this particular sport.

Lanco and Younghusbands Hold First Tribeca Footbal Festival

Summer may bring in the heat, but its also a perfect time to go more outside and do more sports especially for the kids. Soccer is a growing popular sport in the Philippines with the rise of the Philippine Azkals in the international football scene. And this cause the boom of Football schools over the country

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With more and more kids embracing this high action sport, it would be possible that we can make future soccer stars like Phil and James Younghusband. Last April 21, Tribeca Private Residences conducted their first Invitational Football Festival in cooperation with Chelsea FC Soccer School which conducts their matches and practice at their Football field. We have several videos here showing what happened during the Football Festival.

Landco, Younghusbands to hold Tribeca Football Fest on April 21

Leisure real estate developer Landco Pacific Corporation, in partnership with Chelsea FC Soccer School Philippines, the school operated by famed football superstars Phil and James Younghusband, will hold the first Tribeca Football Festival on April 21st. The event, which is expected to feature some 500 football enthusiasts, will be held on the 7-Aside Football Field from 8 am till 4:30 pm.

THE 1st TRIBECA FOOTBALL FESTIVAL  organizers and sponsors include: Albert Martin Villa-Real (left), Vice President for Sales, Landco Pacific Corp.; links hands with (starting second from left) Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr., Vice Chairman, Landco Pacific Corp.; Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, President and CEO, Landco Pacific Corp.; James and Phil Younghusband, Directors of the Younghusband Football Academy; Lorenzo Andres Roxas, Chairman and President, Maybank ATR KimEng Securities Inc.; Manuel Tordesillas, Chairman, ATR KimEng Land Inc.; and Renato Leveriza Jr., President, ATR KimEng Land Inc. The football even will be held on April 21st at the 7-Aside Football Field located at Tribeca Private Residences in Sucat, Muntinlupa. Sponsors of the 1^st Tribeca Football Fest include Meralco, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, and PLDT-SME.

KASIBULAN: Education and Football For More Pinoys

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) launched last Fevruary 2012 its Grassroots Development Program called KASIBULAN. WIth the Philosophy of developing football in every environment in the Philippines for girls and boys between 6 to 12 years old, the program ensures everyone has the opportunity to have fun.

Plans started way back in 2012 with teh FIFA Grassroots Course and Festival conducted by FIFA Instructor Takeshi ONo. Selected coaches from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were trained on how Grassroots Festival should be implemented. Based on the FIFA Standards and best practices from other countries, the PFF developed the template for its own Grassroots program that which they call the Kasibulan - Grassroots Course and Festival (GCF)

The Seach For The New Teen Azkals Is On!

As Football (Soccer) is the next big sport in the country with the rise of the Philippine Azkals (Philippine Men's Football Team) in winning competitions and may also lead for a future at the FIFA World Cup. Many adults and kids are getting interested and playing the games, and goes beyond being just a craze.

Watch Team Azkals in action through the Cortal SQR Facebook Promo!

The new Cortal SQR, the official pain reliever of Team Azkals, gives you the chance to win tickets to the much anticipated match between Sri Lanka and our very own Philippine National Football Team. It all happens on July 03, 2011 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines.

Here's how you can win those tickets:

1. Search and Like the "Cortal SQR" Page on Facebook.

2. On the wall of Cortal SQR Facebook Page, from June 21 to June 28, post your most creative cheer for its newest ambassador, the Philippine Azkals for their game on July 3, 2011. Your post / cheer will serve as your official entry to the Facebook promo.

3. The post / cheer should end with “Sa Cortal SQR, We Believe, Kaya Nyo Yan!”.

4. Get as many Facebook friends as possible to like your post / cheer.

1GOAL! Football and Education!

Education beats poverty. That’s why, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, some of football’s greatest players are joining together with VSO, other 1GOAL partners and millions of people from across the globe. We have one goal: to help the 72 million children around the world who are missing out on a primary education get one.

They will be presenting the 1GOAL petition to the world’s leaders in New York in September. It urges them to follow through on the promise they made in 2000, through the Millennium Development Goals, to provide universal education. Add your name now and hold them to their promise to give every child a chance to go to school.

Now it needs your help to refer your family and friends to support the cause. We know for a fact that many are dire need of basic education as a mean to emancipate from poverty. It would not take a long time, just a few minutes to register and you have made a big difference. So you don't have to be rich to help others in the quest for education for all. Go ahead and visit their website today!

CLICK HERE!