A conversion you didn't choose is always a difficult time to live for athletes. Chris Ojamiren was playing in different Filipino's clubs, in 2014 he stopped playing, after a career ending cruciate ligament injury. He joined the English School of Manilla, the capital city, as a coach. He was then thinking of creating a football Academy. “During that time, I felt football could be developed in the Philippines: children had a great motivation to play. I tried to help.” After he graduated in marketing in Nigeria, Chris was ready to start his project.

The first step was to become a qualified coach under the AFC (Asian Football Confederation). As he was not born in the Philippines he can only work occasionally, it becomes an asset in the end, he spent his free time developing his project. The second step was to find sponsors.

Luckily, in September 2018, a French retailer, Decathlon, opened a store, next door, in Dasmarinas. It was a great opportunity to get in touch. In 2019, Chris signed a partnership with Decathlon. Decathlon offered him some equipment and free access to its sports area. In May 2019, the Bravo Vision football Academy (BVFA) was born!

Chris needed to become known. Decathlon Dasmarinas helped him advertise in its store. But the main problem remained... football itself : “Here, basketball is the most popular sport, the other ones are quite far behind”. Chris tried to explain to parents that basketball comes from the United States, and therefore it is not the perfect sport for Filipinos because of their smaller body shape. On the contrary, football is the right sport! “Filipinos are quick, lively, but not tall.” Chris took advantage of his marketing skills to develop football for children. To start with Decathlon playground sessions were free of charge. “Today, people have to pay but much less than in other places in the country”. Social networks and personal recommendations helped to spread the word.

Every Saturday and Sunday, 25 children from ages 4 to 14 play football, their new passion. They can enjoy co-ed sessions with a special program for basics; physical and technical subjects, discipline and instruction. “The total package! I like the educational values of football.” In March 2020, the Dasmarinas store shutdown but a new one opened elsewhere. It was not the end of the world for Chris. “Decathlon managers supported me, especially Pierre Lazaro, who helped me to start my project”. Later on, Chris organised meetings online, during the pandemic. “But we are living very hard times, nearly unbearable. Children need to regularly do some exercise, kick a ball, be together…” Today, football is slowly returning to people's lives. And “Coach Chris”, is more involved than ever, and tries to create a better future, full of energy, human values and football.