Supporting the Next Generation: Why Football Is Part of AKA'IKI's Story
At AKA'IKI, we often talk about the places that shape us. Sometimes those places are cities where we lived, countries we travelled through, or landmarks connected to an important memory. Sometimes they are football pitches.
Supporting FC Bangkok at MADCUP Football Madrid
This summer, AKA'IKI proudly supported FC Bangkok as they travelled from Thailand to Spain to compete in MADCUP Football Madrid, one of Europe's largest international youth football tournaments. Bringing together hundreds of teams from around the world, MADCUP gives young players the chance to compete at a high level, experience different cultures, and create memories they will carry with them for years.
For us, this sponsorship was about far more than putting our logo on a shirt or providing them with a water bottle.
Why Youth Football Matters
Football teaches lessons that stay with children long after the final whistle. It teaches commitment, discipline, teamwork, and confidence. It introduces young people to different countries, different languages, and different ways of seeing the world. Travelling for sport also gives children the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone while sharing those experiences with teammates who often become lifelong friends.
That is something we genuinely believe in.
As parents ourselves, we know how much time, effort, and sacrifice go into giving children opportunities like this. Behind every tournament are families organising flights, balancing work commitments, supporting training sessions, and cheering from the sidelines. These experiences become part of a family's story just as much as the child's.
Watching FC Bangkok compete in Madrid was a proud moment. The boys represented their club with enthusiasm and determination, carrying themselves with respect throughout the tournament. Seeing them use AKA'IKI water bottles and travel gear was special, not because of the products themselves, but because we were able to play a small part in their journey.
Monica & Kai, AKA'IKI's co-founders, experienced the tournament from a very personal perspective. Their own son was part of the team, giving them the chance to see first-hand what events like MADCUP mean to young players and their families. Long days, little sleep, balancing work with supporting the team, and sharing in every result became part of the experience. It reinforced something that has always been at the heart of AKA'IKI: the journeys that shape us are often shared with the people closest to us.
Those are the moments children remember. The excitement before kick-off. Celebrating with teammates. Exploring a new country together. Wearing the same colours and feeling part of something bigger than themselves.
Years later, the scoreline may fade, but the experience remains.
The Places That Shape Us
That is one of the reasons AKA'IKI exists. We believe that meaningful places deserve to be remembered. For some people, that place is where they met their partner or started a business. For others, it is the football pitch where their child played in an international tournament for the first time.
Supporting young athletes is one small way we can give something back while encouraging children to dream bigger, travel further, and create experiences that stay with them throughout their lives. We are proud to have been part of FC Bangkok's journey to MADCUP , and we look forward to supporting many more young explorers as they create stories of their own.
