SPORTS SPONSORSHIP
A Heart Of Gold
Football Superstar Vincent Kompany Drops In At Taarana For Some Fun And Games
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n 2011, Belgian football superstar Vincent Kompany captained the Manchester City FC to win the FA Cup before going on to win the Premier League in 2012 – the team’s first league title in forty-four years. So, what does a celebrated champion in his prime like Kompany do with his spare time during off-season? Hanging out at night clubs for A-listers and Hollywood parties? Lounging on private yachts in the Caribbean? Well, maybe, but there’s more to this football legend than that. When Kompany took up QNET’s invitation to come and spend a morning at Taarana School, a school for children with special needs in Malaysia, he showed that he’s a down-to-earth celebrity with a heart of gold. Kompany, who interestingly is also an official FIFA ambassador for registered charity SOS Children’s Villages, had a wonderful time learning about the school’s activities and meeting with the children. His infectious smile quickly spread to
everyone as he conducted two coaching sessions with the kids and faced some tough competition from young opponents in a friendly game of football. Manchester City’s captain shares some common values with QNET; a social conscience which urges us to make a difference by helping those who are in need and doing what we can to give them a brighter future. This concept is manifest in RYTHM – Raise Yourself To Help Mankind. More than simply a CSR arm, RYTHM is QNET’s corporate heartbeat. During the Press Conference, which was part of Kompany’s QNET-sponsored tour of Asia, Kompany shared his impression of the magnificent school: “I am amazed at the dedication of the teachers here and congratulate Vijayaratnam Foundation for having opened the school, which I understand is one of the first of its kind in Malaysia.” Of course, playing sport is a vital part of any child’s development. In this respect,
the children of Taarana are no different; they will never forget the day that the captain of champions, Manchester City, came to their school from the other side of the world, just to visit, kick a football around with them and have some fun. The teachers at Taarana School, the parents, the RYTHM staff and, most importantly, the children deserve great recognition for putting on such an exceptional event. Taarana School A school in Taman OUG, Kuala Lumpur, set up by the Vijayaratnam Foundation, the Malaysian chapter of the RYTHM Foundation, for children aged 6-12 who face challenges with delayed development in academic, social and adaptive skills, also known as Mild Intellectual Disability (MID). Vincent Kompany The captain of Manchester City FC, captain of the Belgium national football team and an all-round nice guy.
By Ned Smith, Copywriter The best neighbour anybody can ask for.
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