I had goosebumps: on tour with Liverpool FC
Four of our Futuremakers coaches and NGO partners joined us on Liverpool FC’s tour to Singapore this summer. Here’s what they got up to.
The Liverpool FC men’s team travelled to Singapore in July and August to play Leicester City and Bayern Munich as part of their pre-season preparations. Among the tour party were four special guests who are instrumental to our Futuremakers programme across the world.
From Vietnam, we were joined by Vo Thi Huong Giang and Phan Thi Thu Huong. Huong has been with the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Football for All Vietnam since 2009, and has been delivering our Futuremakers Goal partnership for young people in Vietnam since 2014. Giang, meanwhile, has been a Futuremakers coach for the past two years.
Felicia Nokuthula Mohlomi (known as Thuli), a Goal coach from South Africa, was also part of the tour, as was NGO partner Samantha Pennells-Ingle who also joined us from South Africa. Sam, who works for Altus Sports, has been working with us for nine years delivering our Futuremakers programme in South Africa, while Tuli has been serving our curriculum to young people in the region since 2017.
Day one
Our guests attended a children’s soccer clinic led by Liverpool FC Soccer Schools coaches and LFC Legends Lucas Leiva and Martin Skrtel. They were able to experience the Reds’ style of training, teaching youngsters around the world ‘The Liverpool Way’, and had the chance to spend time with the coaches after the session.
The trip was Thuli’s first time traveling outside of South Africa. She says: “It was really exciting…I learned two or three tricks from the coaches. Then after the clinics, we had a chance to meet up with development coaches where we asked them questions, and they gave us every critique feedback and it was really productive.”
That evening, the group got to see the LFC men’s First Team train at the Singapore National Stadium.
Thuli continues: “I had goosebumps…I couldn’t believe myself that I was there. I got to see one of the biggest players in Liverpool FC, Salah, and I was really excited. I kept on screaming until my voice was just not there anymore.”
Giang says: “How wonderful! Chants of ‘Liverpool! Liverpool!’ and the applause of the fans for their favourite team on the field is great. I love the passionate atmosphere of football. I was really attracted to football: I love Liverpool FC with Jurgen Klopp, Salah, Diaz…”
Day two
The following day, the group managed to squeeze in some sightseeing before ending their day back at the Singapore National Stadium, where they watched the Reds beat Leicester 4-0.
Sam says: “The whole thing was actually one awesome experience. The LFC clinic was interesting. It’s much different to our soccer clinics or football clinics that we have here. Watching the training was the best part. I think the second [best] part was actually hearing the Liverpool FC fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone…I am now definitely a Liverpool FC fan!”
Huong also explains that the experience had made her a Liverpool FC fan: “It was such a great pleasure and privilege being in Singapore. I could not imagine how supportive the SC global team and SC Singapore team would be.”
She concludes: “We hope to see you again and are eager to tell a story of what we have supported with our grassroots football clubs in Vietnam, and to connect football lovers with Liverpool FC. I was not a fan of Liverpool FC before the trip but now with wonderful experience in Singapore, I am a committed fan of Liverpool FC and get excited to follow Liverpool FC’s journey,”
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered is our global initiative to tackle inequality by promoting greater economic inclusion in our markets. Futuremakers supports disadvantaged young people aged 35 or below, especially girls and people with visual impairments, to learn new skills and improve their chances of getting a job or starting their own business.
Focussing on three pillars – Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship – Futuremakers aims to help the next generation learn, earn and grow.