Khazanah and Johan Cruyff Foundation launch Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur
 
Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), in partnership with the Johan Cruyff Foundation, is pleased to announce the launch of Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur in Brickfields, the second Cruyff Court in Malaysia after the opening of Cruyff Court Iskandar Malaysia last year.
 
The launch was officiated by the Minister of Federal Territories, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor. Also present were Director General of DBKL, Datuk Hj Salleh Yusup, Khazanah Managing Director, Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hj. Mokhtar, and Johan Cruyff Foundation Director, Carole Thate.
 
The development of the two Cruyff Courts in Malaysia is a Corporate Responsibility (“CR”) initiative by Khazanah in collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Foundation. The first Cruyff Court, Cruyff Court Iskandar Malaysia, was launched in September 2012 by D.Y.A.M. Tunku Ismail Idris ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, and is located in Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor Bahru.
 
The world-renowned Cruyff Court programme consists of public playing fields in urban neighbourhoods to provide a unique football experience to disadvantaged children, youths and the larger community in the vicinity. Malaysia is only the second Asian country to have Cruyff Courts in Asia, after Japan. In total, there are 177 Cruyff Courts around the world.
 
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (“DBKL”) contributed the physical site for Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur, while CIMB Foundation, which is the anchor corporate partner for Khazanah’s Cruyff Court initiative, will focus on programmes for special needs children.
 
Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur is free to use and is open every day from 9am to 7pm, with priority given to schools, colleges, universities, football academies, and non-governmental organisations within the Brickfields and surrounding areas. It is also open to the general public daily from 7pm to 10pm.
 
The official launch of Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur was preceded the previous week by the start of the Cruyff Foundation Community Programme at the facility. A group of coaches from the area were provided with the know-how and opportunity to organise events for children in the community. In addition, a Cruyff Courts 6×6 six-a-side football tournament for under-12-year-old boys was organized with 16 teams taking part. The two activities are part of the features of Cruyff Foundation Community Programmes conducted at Cruyff Courts around the world.
 
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said: “I would like to express my great appreciation to Khazanah for their Corporate Responsibility initiative, in collaboration with DBKL and Johan Cruyff Foundation, to bring to Malaysia a unique experience through the development of the Cruyff Courts, especially in Kuala Lumpur. In this regard, I hope the corporate sector can further enhance its CR contributions by introducing more programmes and initiatives in Kuala Lumpur.”
 
Khazanah Managing Director Tan Sri Dato’ Azman Hj. Mokhtar said: “Khazanah’s collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Foundation for the development of the Cruyff Courts in Malaysia is an important component of our CR efforts. Through these facilities, we hope to do our part in providing children and youths, especially those from low income and vulnerable backgrounds, with a place to not only to have fun but also the opportunity to excel both in sports as well as in life. Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur belongs to the community and we encourage everyone in the community to make full use of it.”
 
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Hj. Ahmad Phesal Hj. Talib said: “There is tremendous interest in sports in Malaysia, and sports facilities have improved rapidly over the years. With this in mind, DBKL intends to provide more community centres and sports complexes in Kuala Lumpur. I would like to express my special gratitude and appreciation to Khazanah for collaborating with DBKL in the development of Cruyff Court Kuala Lumpur. We hope to work with Khazanah on other CR projects in the future and we welcome other corporate bodies to work with us on similar collaborations.”
 
Johan Cruyff Foundation Director Carole Thate said: “We are happy to partner with Khazanah to build the two courts in Malaysia. Cruyff Courts all around the world are accessible and safe for children to play and in addition they serve as a centre for the development of talent through various partnerships with schools and sports academies and through the implementation of the Cruyff Foundation Community Programme and Cruyff Courts 6×6 school championships.”
 
The Johan Cruyff Foundation was established in 1997 with the aim of improving the life of children all over the world through sport, paying special attention to children with special needs and less fortunate youngsters. World-renowned Dutch football player Johan Cruyff was one of the first influential sportsmen in the Netherlands to connect his name to a foundation.
 
END
 
About Johan Cruyff Foundation
 
The Johan Cruyff Foundation was established in 1997 as a result of Johan Cruyff’s aspiration to get children moving. Since its launch in 1997, the Johan Cruyff Foundation has grown into an organisation that keeps youth in motion every day. The Foundation does this by building Cruyff Courts (public playgrounds that give children back their play area), by supporting sports projects for children with disabilities and organising unique sporting events for youth. For further information on the Johan Cruyff Foundation, please visit www.cruyff-foundation.org.