AC Milan arrives in Sri Lanka to launch three new Milan Junior Camps

• The Rossoneri and Colombo Athletic and Football Club join forces to promote the AC Milan Method in new territories

Colombo Athletic and Football Club President Ajai Vir Singh

AC Milan Honorary Vice President and former Captain of Italy Franco Baresi

AC Milan has announced the arrival of the Milan Junior Camp project in Sri Lanka, which will make stops in the cities of Colombo, Galle, and Jaffna at the beginning of next year.

This landmark initiative is the first-of-its-kind in Sri Lanka and has been made possible through a partnership with the Academy of Colombo Athletic and Football Club, and represents another significant step in the global development of the Milan Junior Camp project – following a summer that saw the initiative also start in 23 cities across North America and Europe.

Sports development is key to any society’s progression, as it enhances mental and physical health. 

The program will involve young athletes, both boys and girls, aged between 5 and 17, and will begin on 31 January 2025. The initiative will kick off with a workshop for local coaches and stakeholders, who will receive specific and tailored technical training with the support of the Club’s expertise.

Thanks to a holistic approach based on the AC Milan Method, the young athletes attending the Milan Junior Camp will benefit from the guidance of certified Rossoneri coaches, who will focus on enhancing the technical abilities of the young participants and their physical and mental wellbeing.

AC Milan Honorary Vice President and Former Captain of Italy Franco Baresi said: “This project, born from the collaboration between AC Milan and the Colombo Athletic and Football Club, promotes the passion for football and the expansion of the AC Milan Method in new countries. We are always very proud and excited to offer new opportunities to young aspiring male and female footballers around the world, and with the arrival of the Milan Junior Camp in Sri Lanka, we aim to continue spreading the Rossoneri values globally.”

Colombo Athletic and Football Club President Ajai Vir Singh said: “This is the start of a new era of football and sports education in Sri Lanka. AC Milan brings their heritage of 125 years and their success story in the form of a holistic training structure for our next generation here in Sri Lanka. This will open doors for boys and girls aged 5-17 to reach their fullest potential. There is a systematic approach to sports that is being introduced that covers nutrition, mental health, strength training, and more.”

The Colombo Athletic and Football Club is founded with the key objective of bringing a scientific and systematic approach to sports for the next generation of Sri Lanka – it focuses on holistic mind and body development beyond just football. It is founded by giving shape to the passion of President Ajai Vir Singh, Executive Director Fouzul Hameed, and Director Trevor Reckerman.

Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Damiano Francovigh said: “We are very excited to see AC Milan, one of the most important and successful Italian football teams ever, opening Junior Camps in Sri Lanka. We are confident that this will turn out to be not only a very good opportunity for local youngsters to improve their football skills, but also one more important bond of friendship and cooperation between Italy and Sri Lanka.”

Reckermen said: “Sri Lanka needs a fresh start and a new approach that will build good foundations, hence an academy of this nature will provide that. I am confident in our plans.”

The face of football is changing in Asia and this is also been witnessed in South Asia and Sri Lanka – the growing popularity among the young generation is a sign that new impetus is required.

Hameed said: “I have been involved with the game since childhood; even now, at a higher level, this project is much needed to encourage and lift the standard of training. We are keen to see this happen.”

There is also a growing popularity among the girls, where more schools and institutions are engaged with the game represented by their female teams. In the last 10 years, there has been a tremendous increase in popularity in the Women’s World Cup – this increase in viewership makes it a very valuable proposition.