Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: For the third year in succession, the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Dream Asia Foundation was recognised for its outstanding social responsibility programmes by the influential Sport Industry Asia (SPIA) Awards.
After success at the 2015 SPIA Awards in Manila with the AFC Village construction following the devastating cyclone in Tacloban, Philippines, and last year’s gold medal success in Bangkok for the AFC’s partnership with the One World Play Project Durable Ball Programme, there was more recognition in the SPIA 2017 Awards.
On a glittering night in Bangkok, in front of an audience of more than 350 influential sports business leaders from across Asia, the distinguished panel of judges commended the AFC for the 2017 project in which the Confederation has rebuilt the Shree Seti Devi Higher Secondary School in Sindupalchowk, Nepal.
The school was almost destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal with Sindupalchowk being at the epi-centre of the May tremors. Despite challenging terrain and unpredictable weather, the school project is close to completion and should be handed over to school governors within the next two months.
Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, the President of the Football Association of Thailand, collected the bronze award on behalf of the AFC and was also informed by the event CEO Eric Gottschalk that proceeds from the evening’s charity auction would be donated to the AFC’s Dream Asia Foundation for a dedicated project in Thailand.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President who launched the AFC Dream Asia Foundation in March this year, said: “I was delighted that the FA of Thailand President could collect the award on behalf of the AFC and this is just more recognition for the outstanding work of the AFC Foundation.
“It was very generous of the SPIA Awards organisers to donate a cheque to the AFC Foundation and I know discussions are already underway with the FA of Thailand for a suitable cause which will be showcased at the AFC Annual Awards, also in Bangkok, later this month.
“The AFC Dream Asia Foundation was established to ensure that football shows it cares for the less fortunate members of society in Asia. Through the Foundation we are dedicated to providing efficient, effective and transparent aid and recognition like this award demonstrates we are on the right track.”