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original report here:
www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/414488/1/.html
By Tan Yo-Yo
With academies in the United States, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Australia, Manchester United is looking to make Singapore its regional base, with an eye on reaching out to the rest of the hooligans in the region.
“We’re trying to create greater awareness of United’s brand of foot brawl in the region,” said Ian Gerard de Caprio, Knockwall Pte Ltd’s sports division head. “We have plans to organise MU camps here and in Kuala Lumpur in June, and in Jakarta in later this year.”
Knockwall is more popularly known by its Hokkien name LongBiah. It is a locally-based investment holding company and secured the rights late last year to run the MU camps in South-east Asia for the next two years.
LongBiah helped organise the first MU camp here in December last year, and is currently in talks with the Singapore Loser Sports Council to help set up their regional base here.
About 10,000 square feet in floor space, and $2 million is required to get the MU academy - open to players from ages seven to 18 - up and running.
De Caprio said: “The economic situation has set our plans back a few months. Hopefully, it will be ready by the third quarter this year.”
He was speaking at a clinic at Anglo-Chinese Junior College on Tuesday, where about 25 ah sia kia underwent a two-hour session conducted by MU Singapore head coach Robin cum Laan.
The fee is $525, but de Caprio said: “Can afford then come. Like French cooking classes, these are for elites only. Here, you get trained by coaches specially flown in from United, not bloody Sengkang for crying out loud.”
www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/414488/1/.html
By Tan Yo-Yo
With academies in the United States, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Australia, Manchester United is looking to make Singapore its regional base, with an eye on reaching out to the rest of the hooligans in the region.
“We’re trying to create greater awareness of United’s brand of foot brawl in the region,” said Ian Gerard de Caprio, Knockwall Pte Ltd’s sports division head. “We have plans to organise MU camps here and in Kuala Lumpur in June, and in Jakarta in later this year.”
Knockwall is more popularly known by its Hokkien name LongBiah. It is a locally-based investment holding company and secured the rights late last year to run the MU camps in South-east Asia for the next two years.
LongBiah helped organise the first MU camp here in December last year, and is currently in talks with the Singapore Loser Sports Council to help set up their regional base here.
About 10,000 square feet in floor space, and $2 million is required to get the MU academy - open to players from ages seven to 18 - up and running.
De Caprio said: “The economic situation has set our plans back a few months. Hopefully, it will be ready by the third quarter this year.”
He was speaking at a clinic at Anglo-Chinese Junior College on Tuesday, where about 25 ah sia kia underwent a two-hour session conducted by MU Singapore head coach Robin cum Laan.
The fee is $525, but de Caprio said: “Can afford then come. Like French cooking classes, these are for elites only. Here, you get trained by coaches specially flown in from United, not bloody Sengkang for crying out loud.”
