Soccer mania in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - What’s the hottest sport right now? You got it — it’s soccer! With the Azkals’ recent success in international competition (not to mention their good looks), just about everyone in the Philippines is going loco over soccer. The Futkaleros, a local soccer group that promotes street soccer, recently sent a youth team abroad that beat the best team in the world, Brazil. They were recently featured in Kim Atienza’s show Matanglawin — clear proof that soccer is now going mainstream.

For four years now, Crush Communications, one of the most dynamic marketing communications companies in the country, has been promoting the game of soccer every summer through an interactive mall-based event series called “Soccer Mania.” For the past four years, McDonald’s has been supporting Soccer Mania. And now, all that support is paying off — with soccer (or more globally known as football) taking off like a rocket in popularity. Soccer Mania will be happening once again this summer in SM Supermalls.

“In a way, we’re quite lucky,” says Crush managing director Rod Nepomuceno. “We’ve been promoting soccer to everyday folks for a number of years now with McDonald’s and SM Supermalls. It’s the world’s favorite sport. We’ve been preaching to every Filipino mall-goer that soccer is a sport that we should all love — because it’s a sport that doesn’t have any height or weight requirement. We can excel in this sport — if we have the passion for it. I am glad that with the success of the Azkals, that passion has been been switched on. I think soccer has turned a corner here in the country. So we’re excited with Soccer Mania this year.”

McDonald’s Soccer Mania, which is supported by Caltex, Supah Strikas, Smart Sports, SM Supermalls, Solar Sports, Philippine STAR, Gerflor Taraflex, Crush Communications, Monster Radio RX 93, and 105.1 Crossover, is happening in the following SM Malls: SM Mall of Asia on March 12 and 13; SM Megamall on March 19 and 20; SM Sucat on April 2 and 3; SM Fairview on April 9 and 10; SM Manila on April 14, 15 and 17; SM Bacolod on May 7 and 8; SM Cebu on May 28 and 29.

Join the games for a chance to win some really cool prizes — and get free soccer lessons courtesy of The Futkaleros. Also have a chance to watch a free Ronald McDonald show every 3 p.m. and have your picture taken with your favorite Supa Strikas character.   For inquiries, e-mail Inah Bunyi Crush at inah@crush.com.phor Willy Luz at willyluz@yahoo.com.