SGX Cares launches financial literacy workshops for Lion City Sailors footballers

SGX Cares has partnered the Lion City Sailors - one of the teams in the Singapore Premier League - to launch a series of financial literacy workshops to equip the club’s footballers with the know-how to manage their personal finances and investments during their careers and beyond.

SGX Cares is the Singapore Exchange’s outreach volunteering initiative, and this collaboration is aligned with the Sailors’ continuous efforts in building all-rounded competencies among its players.

SGX’s head of research Chan Kum Kong and the Sailors’ sporting director Badri Ghent kicked off the first session on Aug 29. The workshop was conducted by SGX Academy trainer, Chua I-Min, who covered the basics of financial planning and investing. 

“Financial literacy is one of the key pillars of SGX Cares, and it is something we feel is necessary to help empower individuals to take charge of their future,” Chan said. “We also understand the needs of these professional footballers who may have a short career on the football pitch. Through this series of workshops, the knowledge (they gain) in managing their finances early and to start investing will serve them well in the years to come.”

Ghent said: “Our players are our most important assets, and we want to create the best possible environment for them to fully focus on their work on the pitch, while also equipping them for life beyond football.”

He hoped the workshops would become “a key part of our efforts to help players prepare for options after their playing careers”. 

SEE ALSO

Deliveroo raises S$10,000 for Food from the Heart

DECODING ASIA

Navigate Asia in
a new global order

Get the insights delivered to your inbox.

Among the players who attended the first workshop were Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun, as well as Nur Adam and Song Ui-yong.

Harun, 31, said: “It’s important for us players to prepare ourselves for what comes after we hang up our boots. Some of us have already started to plan for that – whether it’s going to school, setting up a business, or coaching – and financial literacy is definitely a tool that will help us whatever we choose to do. We are grateful that the club has worked with SGX to help us on this front.”

For 21-year-old Nur Adam, it was an opportunity to pick up an important life skill that would help him take care of his family in the future.  “I’m looking forward to learning more and putting things into practice so that I can have a good platform to grow my finances,” he said.