Economy
Chelsea And Ascott Celebrate Bringing The Famous CFC Fan Event To Singapore
Exhilarating weekend of activities at Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement event, The Famous CFC, saw hundreds of passionate Chelsea fans and Ascott Star Rewards members interact with club legend Gianfranco Zola and celebrate the team’s continued run of impressive wins
LONDON, UK / SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 December 2024 – Chelsea Football Club, in collaboration with presenting partner The Ascott Limited (Ascott), brought The Blues to Singapore this past weekend, hosting the club’s first edition of The Famous CFC in Southeast Asia.
Held over the weekend of 30 November and 1 December, the Singapore edition of The Famous CFC brought together hundreds of passionate Chelsea fans to celebrate the club’s legacy and passion. Anchored at lyf Funan Singapore, with additional activities at The Robertson House by The Crest Collection and Ascott Orchard Singapore, the two-day festivities featured football coaching clinics, a watch party for Chelsea’s match against Aston Villa, and exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola. As Chelsea’s Official Global Hotels Partner and the presenting partner of The Famous CFC in Singapore, Ascott played a key role in bringing the event to life, showcasing its continued commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for Chelsea’s fans and Ascott Star Rewards members.
Gianfranco Zola said: “What a privilege it has been to be a part of The Famous CFC in Singapore! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at The Robertson House by The Crest Collection, as well as my visits to lyf Funan Singapore and Ascott Orchard Singapore. It was a pleasure to meet so many of Chelsea’s passionate fans here. The enthusiasm and energy from them all has been amazing, and it is truly special to connect with so many supporters face-to-face. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to share unforgettable moments with them.”
He added “The weekend was capped off with a dominant performance from Chelsea against Aston Villa. I recently spent time with Cole Palmer and saw first-hand what an unbelievable talent he is. His goal and performance against Aston Villa was top quality and there is no doubt in my mind he has the tools to be one of the best players in the world in the near future. What a signing he has proven to be for Chelsea!”
Casper Stylsvig, Chelsea’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “The Singapore edition of The Famous CFC was a tremendous success, and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to reconnect with our passionate fanbase in Southeast Asia, thanks to our friends at Ascott. It was truly inspiring to see the unwavering dedication of our supporters. We are very proud of our partnership with Ascott, and the experience we have delivered for both our fans and Ascott Star Rewards members.”
Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascott, said: “As Chelsea’s Official Global Hotels Partner, Ascott is proud to continue providing the club’s supporters and Ascott Star Rewards members with exclusive and immersive experiences that go beyond just the stay. From football clinics conducted by Chelsea coaches and an intimate fireside chat with club legend Gianfranco Zola, to curated pre-match F&B hospitality and watching the Blues in action alongside Zola himself; every detail throughout The Famous CFC in Singapore reflects Ascott’s dedication to seamlessly blend hospitality, entertainment and sports to deliver an unforgettable event, reinforcing our commitment to ensure guests ‘Stay Rewarded’ with exceptional experiences. Building on this momentum, Ascott is excited to already be working on bringing The Famous CFC to other cities in 2025, further strengthening our connection with Chelsea’s global fanbase. We look forward to creating more extraordinary experiences for fans and Ascott Star Rewards members worldwide, to live their unlimited passion for the club they love.”
“Ascott is also looking forward to the rebranding of the two stadium hotels, currently operating as Stamford Bridge Hotel London, to lyf by the second half of 2025. The lyf brand, with its experience-led, social living concept, aligns perfectly with the spirit of Chelsea and the dynamic energy of Stamford Bridge. Offering more than just a place to stay, lyf will deliver an immersive experience that reflects Chelsea’s strong sense of community, passion and excellence. Whether guests are visiting for a match or immersing themselves in the club’s legendary legacy, we are confident this new lyf property will provide a truly remarkable experience,” she added.
Highlights from The Famous CFC – Singapore Edition
The Singapore edition of The Famous CFC kicked off on Saturday, 30 November, with a series of football coaching clinics at The Ark futsal court in Funan, led by coaches from Chelsea FC. Reflecting The Famous CFC’s commitment to supporting local communities, the clinics hosted participants from SportCares, the philanthropic arm of Sport Singapore, and the Singapore Disability Sports Council. Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola made a special appearance, engaging with the beneficiaries and sharing inspiring words with the young players.
Later in the day, Zola visited Ascott Orchard Singapore to film exclusive content for fans. He then hosted an intimate meet-and-greet with Ascott Star Rewards members at The Robertson House by The Crest Collection, where fans had the chance to interact with him and take photos with the 2016/17 Premier League trophy. Zola also stopped by Chandu, the hotel’s speakeasy cocktail bar, where he tried his hand at crafting the ‘Magic Box Dribble’, a cocktail specially created in his honour.
The activities continued on Sunday, 1 December, with more football coaching clinics. This was followed by a fireside chat at lyf Funan Singapore, where Zola shared personal stories, reflected on memorable moments from his football career and answered questions from attendees. In the evening, Zola joined Ascott Star Rewards members for a lively dinner party at lyf Funan Singapore. The event featured an immersive experiential zone for photo opportunities and a merchandise booth inspired by the iconic dressing room at Stamford Bridge. Three ‘one-of-a-kind’ shirts, two autographed by Zola and one by Chelsea award-winning player Cole Palmer respectively, were put up for a live charity auction during the dinner party. In line with Ascott’s and Chelsea’s efforts to promote disability inclusion, auction proceeds were donated to the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund (GCTEF), which supports persons with disabilities through providing financial aid, supporting aspirations and conferring awards to recognise the achievements and potential of persons with disabilities. GCTEF is administered by SG Enable and supported by Mediacorp, with Singapore’s Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong as its Patron.
The excitement culminated with the Chelsea vs. Aston Villa watch party at Funan, where around 250 supporters gathered at the shopping mall’s atrium to watch the thrilling match live from Stamford Bridge, with Zola celebrating alongside them. The atmosphere was electric as fans cheered on their favourite team. Special greetings from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Robert Sanchez, Axel Disasi, Marcus Bettinelli and Nicholas Jackson, along with exclusive giveaways drawn by Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez, heightened the excitement throughout the evening. With surprises and memorable moments at every turn, the event marked the perfect conclusion to an extraordinary two-day Famous CFC festivities.
For the latest updates on exclusive offers from Ascott’s partnership with Chelsea, including the upcoming editions of The Famous CFC, please visit https://www.discoverasr.com/en/ascott-chelseafc.
Hashtag: #TheAscottLimited #AscottStarRewards #DiscoverASR #StayRewarded
https://www.discoverasr.com/en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ascott-limited/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Ascott Limited
Since pioneering Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984, Ascott has grown to be a trusted hospitality company with over 960 properties globally. Headquartered in Singapore, Ascott’s presence extends across about 230 cities in over 40 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA. Ascott’s diversified accommodation offerings span serviced residences, coliving properties, hotels and independent senior living apartments, as well as student accommodation and rental housing. Its award-winning hospitality brands include Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Fox, Harris, POP!, Preference, Quest, Vertu and Yello. Through Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott’s loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties.
A wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited, Ascott is a leading vertically-integrated lodging operator. Harnessing its extensive network of third-party owners and in-market expertise, Ascott grows fee-related earnings through its hospitality management and investment management capabilities. Ascott also expands its funds under management by growing its sponsored CapitaLand Ascott Trust and private funds.
This year, Ascott marks 40 years in hospitality service with the launch of Ascott Unlimited, a full year campaign that will offer Unlimited Opportunities, Unlimited Choices, Unlimited Freedom, and Unlimited Good. Navigating a future of unlimited possibilities against a backdrop of global change and evolving perspectives of travel, Ascott Unlimited marks Ascott’s ambitions to break new ground, and springboard to its next chapter of growth as a global hospitality company. Find out more about Ascott Unlimited at www.discoverasr.com/ascottunlimited.
For more information on Ascott and its sustainability programme, please visit www.discoverasr.com/the-ascott-limited. Alternatively, connect with us on 
Facebook, 
Instagram, 
TikTok and LinkedIn.
Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea Football Club is one of the top football clubs globally and its men’s team were the FIFA Club World Cup winners for 2021, with the final when the side beat Brazilian side Palmeiras in Abu Dhabi held in 2022 due to the pandemic. That success followed winning the UEFA Champions League for a second time in 2021 with victory over Manchester City in Porto.
Founded in 1905, Chelsea is London’s most central football club, based at the iconic 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. Nicknamed ‘The Blues’, the club lifted the Champions League for the first time in 2012 and has also won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times, the UEFA Europa League twice, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice and the Football League Championship once, in 1955.
The 2021 Champions League and Super Cup triumphs ensured Chelsea became the first club to win four major UEFA club competitions twice, following its earlier successes in those two competitions as well as the Europa League and Cup Winners’ Cup.
The Chelsea Women’s team have enjoyed a huge amount of success and in 2024 won the FA Women’s Super League for a fifth consecutive year and the seventh time overall. The Women’s FA Cup has been won on five occasions. The side has also captured the FA Women’s League Cup twice as well as reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021.
In addition to possessing some of the world’s most recognisable players, Chelsea has also invested in its future with a state-of-the-art Academy and training centre in Cobham, Surrey. Since the Academy building’s opening in 2008, the club has won seven FA Youth Cups, back-to-back UEFA Youth League titles in 2015 and 2016, and the U23 and U18 Premier League national championships most recently in 2019/20 and 2017/18 respectively.
The Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, helping to improve the lives of children and young people all over the world.
CapitaLand Investment Limited
Headquartered and listed in Singapore, CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI) is a leading global real asset manager with a strong Asia foothold. As at 30 September 2024, CLI had S$134 billion of assets under management, as well as S$102 billion of funds under management held via six listed real estate investment trusts and business trusts and a suite of private real asset vehicles that invest in thematic and tactical strategies. Its diversified real estate asset classes include retail, office, lodging, industrial, logistics, business parks, wellness, self-storage, data centres, private credit and special opportunities.
CLI aims to scale its fund management, lodging management and commercial management businesses globally and maintain effective capital management. As the investment management arm of CapitaLand Group, CLI has access to the development capabilities of and pipeline investment opportunities from CapitaLand’s development arm.
As a responsible company, CLI places sustainability at the core of what it does and has committed to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2050. CLI contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.
By Dipo Olowookere
A 2.33 per cent surge recorded by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Monday pushed its year-to-date (YtD) gain to 60.97 per cent.
This means that the local stock market has gained over 60 per cent this year. This performance has been triggered by a strong appetite for domestic equities, especially from investors with hot money.
Yesterday, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 5,705.59 points to 250,481.42 points from 244,775.83 points, and the market capitalisation expanded by N3.160 trillion to N160.254 trillion from N157.094 trillion.
Business Post observed that all the key sectors of the bourse ended in green, with the banking index growing by 4.67 per cent. The industrial goods space increased by 4.32 per cent, the consumer goods counter improved by 0.74 per cent, the insurance sector advanced by 0.59 per cent, and the energy segment soared by 0.03 per cent.
Investor sentiment was bullish as Customs Street ended with 57 price gainers and 21 price losers, implying a positive market breadth index.
The quintet of Livestock Feeds, Integrated Energy Insurance, RT Briscoe, FTN Cocoa, and Union Homes REIT chalked up 10.00 per cent each to sell for N8.80, N2.86, N16.50, N9.13, and N77.00, respectively.
On the flip side, Prestige Assurance lost 10.00 per cent to quite at N1.44, University Press declined by 9.09 per cent to N4.00, Tantalizers slumped by 7.69 per cent to N4.20, NPF Microfinance Bank crashed by 6.25 per cent to N6.00, and Mutual Benefits went down by 5.72 per cent to N4.12.
During the session, market participants traded 1.5 billion equities worth N68.5 billion in 94,834 deals versus the 1.1 billion equities valued at N55.0 billion transacted in 69,996 deals last Friday, indicating a rise in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 36.36 per cent, 24.55 per cent, and 35.49 per cent, respectively.
At the close of transactions, Veritas Kapital was the busiest stock with a turnover of 194.6 million units valued at N299.1 million. Access Holdings sold 172.1 million units for N4.2 billion, First Holdco exchanged 132.0 million units worth N9.8 billion, FCMB traded 123.9 million units valued at N1.4 billion, and Champion Breweries transacted 83.0 million units worth N1.3 billion.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Total inflows into the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) fell sharply in April 2026 as geopolitical tensions and weaker participation from both domestic and foreign investors impacted liquidity in the FX market.
Data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange showed that total foreign exchange inflows declined by 30.1 per cent month-on-month to $2.86 billion in April, down from $4.09 billion recorded in March.
The decline was driven by reduced inflows from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), exporters, importers, foreign portfolio investors and non-bank corporates, reflecting growing investor caution amid rising tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict.
Local inflows, which accounted for 42.8 per cent of total market inflows, dropped by 38.7 per cent to $1.22 billion from $2.00 billion in March.
The steepest decline came from the CBN, whose interventions in the market fell by 83 per cent month-on-month. Inflows from exporters and importers declined by 19.3 per cent, non-bank corporates by 18.2 per cent, while inflows from individuals fell by 33.3 per cent.
Foreign inflows, which contributed 57.2 per cent of the total, also weakened by 21.9 per cent to $1.63 billion compared to $2.09 billion in March.
A breakdown of the foreign component showed that foreign portfolio investment (FPI) inflows dropped by 17.8 per cent, foreign direct investment (FDI) plunged by 78.9 per cent, while inflows from other corporates declined by 54.6 per cent.
Despite the drop in inflows, the local currency posted a modest gain against the US Dollar during the week, appreciating by 1.2 per cent to close at N1,360/$1, supported largely by offshore investor inflows that helped offset domestic demand pressures.
However, the local currency ended the week slightly weaker at the official market, depreciating by 0.22 per cent to N,361.40 per Dollar while gaining 44 basis points at the parallel market to close at N1,363.15/$1.
In the forwards market, the Naira strengthened across all tenors, with the one-month contract appreciating by 1.2 per cent to N1,384.53 to the Dollar, the three-month contract by 1.2 per cent to N1,424.08/$1, the six-month contract by 1.3 per cent to N1,478.39/$1, and the one-year contract by 1.5 per cent to N1,586.56/$1.
Nigeria’s gross external reserves continued their downward trend, declining by $40 million to $48.33 billion as of May 7, 2026. This marked the eighth consecutive week of decline, attributed to sustained CBN interventions, debt service obligations, subdued oil receipts and foreign capital outflows.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices rose in the international market as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns over potential supply disruptions.
Brent Crude gained 1.2 per cent to $101.30 per barrel while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 0.5 per cent to $95.28 per barrel.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has unveiled plans to increase crude oil production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2030, while simultaneously expanding healthcare investments across its host communities in Rivers State.
The company, which operates the NNPC/Renaissance/TotalEnergies/AENR Joint Venture, disclosed this during the launch of its four-day Vision First Plus healthcare outreach programme in B-Dere community, Gokana Local Government Area in Rivers State, where thousands of residents received free eye surgeries, cancer screening, dental care, and treatment for chronic ailments.
Vice President, Relations and Sustainable Development, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Mr Igo Weli, said the company’s growth strategy combines energy production with sustained investment in community wellbeing.
“Renaissance is helping Nigeria reclaim production momentum, boosting national crude output by over 200,000 barrels per day and delivering 1.9 billion cubic feet of gas daily to Bonny NLNG within our first year of operations,” Weli stated.
“Our ambition to reach 500,000 barrels per day by 2030 is anchored not just in volume but in value; value for the economy, value for people, and value for the planet.”
Last year, Renaissance acquired the joint venture onshore assets under Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), making it Nigeria’s biggest upstream operator by asset portfolio and installed capacity.
Mr Weli, represented by the General Manager, Health Renaissance, Mr Akinwumi Fajola, noted that the healthcare outreach reflects Renaissance’s commitment to sustainable development in host communities, stressing that access to quality healthcare should not be treated as a privilege.
“At Renaissance, our purpose is clear; to stand with our communities, invest in people, and create opportunities for healthy and thriving lives,” he said.
“Vision First Plus reflects our belief that access to quality and affordable healthcare is not a privilege, but a shared responsibility.”
According to Mr Weli, the programme was designed to take healthcare directly to underserved communities rather than waiting for residents to visit hospitals and clinics.
“We have designed Health in Motion to take essential healthcare services beyond the walls of hospitals and clinics, delivering care directly to the communities where and when it is most needed,” he said.
The outreach includes eye surgeries, eye screening and consultation, distribution of reading glasses, dental services, mammography, cryotherapy for cancer screening, cardiovascular checks, laboratory services, treatment of chronic and minor ailments, deworming, and insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Mr Weli disclosed that the company also trained community-based health volunteers known as “Vision Finders” to identify people suffering from visual impairments and connect them to treatment.
“This is not just a health intervention. It is an act of empowerment; investing in people, building local capacity, and ensuring that the work we started together does not end when we leave,” he added.
Representing the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mrs Nkechi Anaedobe, said the joint venture remained focused on improving living conditions in host communities.
“Even though we do exploration and production, it’s important for us as companies that we work on the sustainability path of our lives in the host community,” she said.
Mrs Anaedobe revealed that the programme is expected to exceed its initial target of 5,000 beneficiaries.
“We had over 5,000 as our target, and we’re on track to not only meet that but surpass it as well,” she added.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn