ISF Cambodia and AIA Cambodia host AIA – ISF Youth League Opening in Phnom Penh.

On Sunday, 6 February, AIA Cambodia CEO Mr Andrew Loh and ISF Country Manager Ms Vicheka Chourp stood before 450 beaming faces. In Cambodia, opportunities to participate in organised competitive sports are rare. AIA – ISF Youth League – Cambodia’s largest grassroots football league – consistently gives underprivileged youth from across the country the opportunity to build a community and play football in a safe environment.

Welcoming 30 teams across four divisions: U14 Boys, U14 Girls, U10 Boys, and U18 Girls, Mr Loh stated: “It is a great privilege to be a part of this game. I hope this league will help to bring more of us together as we compete, learn about teamwork, and learn things we can take from the game into our lives.”

Echoing his sentiments, Ms Chourp remarked: “I’m happy to see you all again. Because of COVID-19, we’ve postponed this football event many times but today is the day that all 450 players from 30 teams join together. This is the fifth year that AIA Cambodia has sponsored our football programme, and I hope that this partnership will continue to grow. ”

As part of ISF’s commitment to equitable opportunities, the football team invited 109 HIV-positive and blind or visually impaired youth athletes to participate in friendly competitions and activities before the league’s open. ISF is a FIFA Foundation Community Programme-supported organisation committed to creating an inclusive community by providing sporting opportunities to stigmatised youth. We were thrilled to see Loh and AIA Cambodia’s representatives join the games and activities.

2022 marks the fifth consecutive year AIA Cambodia has sponsored AIA – ISF Youth League. Their commitment to supporting longer and healthier lives for Cambodians aligns with ISF’s mission of building better and brighter lives for marginalised youth and their communities. 

To increase accessibility, ISF and AIA Cambodia have announced five league fixtures throughout 2022 – hosting 2,000 youth athletes from four provinces across Cambodia:

• Phnom Penh – Sunday, 6 February: 450 athletes and 30 teams
• Kampot – Sunday, 13 February: 180 athletes and 15 teams
• Phnom Penh – Sunday, 24 April: 600 athletes and 50 teams
• Siem Reap – Sunday, 8 May: 260 athletes and 30 teams
• Kampong Speu – Sunday, 22 May: 260 athletes and 30 teams

Champions from each of the five fixtures will be invited to join 300 youth athletes at AIA – ISF Grand Championship League on Sunday, 14 August.