Football Programme

Realising that all children, no matter how disadvantaged, should be given the opportunity to enjoy themselves and participate in organised sport. ISF has established and arranged sponsorship for a network of football squads for children from local orphanages, NGOs and disadvantaged families throughout Cambodia.

ISF currently works with more than 20 NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) and charities including:

• Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF)
• Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE)
• HAGAR
• Sunrise Children’s Village Kendal (Phnom Penh)
• SOS Children’s Villages in Phnom Penh and Battambang
• ASPECA in Phnom Penh and Battambang

The aim of our Football Programme

• To develop football at grass roots level through orphanages and underprivileged children
• To build team spirit
• To improve discipline through regular contact between coach and child
• To improve fitness and knowledge of the game
• To provide a League and a Tournament
• To use football as a platform to teach children valuable life skills
• And above all to have fun!

The children and their teams who are now a part of the ISF programme have come from various places. We have partnered with a variety of NGO’s, particularly those involved in helping some of Cambodia’s most disadvantaged children. For each of these groups we have provided our football coaching programme free of charge and we now have an ever increasing number of additional NGO’s, orphanages and schools who want their children to join our programme. We therefore always need support to sponsor this growing demand. Our teams are currently made up of boys in the age group of 8-14 years and girls aged 8-16.

Since 2006 we have developed a full football coaching programme in partnership with the Football Federation of Cambodia and its qualified coaches. In that time, we have grown from one coaching group of less than 50 children to assisting 23 organisations coaching groups covering over 2,500 children.

We have held several informal tournaments and many of the boys who played in the national Cambodian U14 squad in Malaysia in 2008 came through the ISF Football Programme. In May 2009 of the 22 players who formed the first ever National Female Football team of Cambodia, 20 of the girls came from the ISF/SALT programme. The team travelled to Laos for their first international game and for many it was their first time outside of their Provinces.

In addition, we have now held two annual football tournaments for our U14 boys teams in 2008 and 2009 sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers and held our inaugural U16 girls tournament in 2009. Teams travelled from as far away as Battambong, Siem Reap and Kendal Province to participate. These events were held in the Army stadium in Phnom Penh and were a resounding success.

2,500 children are now participating in coaching sessions twice a week. You just have to watch a game or training session and see the smiles and expressions of joy and determination on the children’s faces to know that this programme is having a profound and direct impact on each child.

**Click here to view the latest results for the 2011/2012 Barclays Capital ISF Youth League**
**Click here to view the latest results for the 2011/2012 ANZ Royal / SALT Youth League**