07 November 2011

Football master plan eyes 7 to 8 year-old 'futbolilits'

A grassroots football program for boys seven to eight years old and close working relations with the education sector are among the pillars of an eight-year strategic plan the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has begun implementing, its president revealed over the weekend at the sidelines of the 3rd Philippine Futsal League Luzon finals.

The building blocks of the plan to qualify for the World Youth Championships in 2019 are already being laid, according to PFF president Mariano "Nonong" Araneta, who talked with GMA News Online at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on Sunday.

Araneta said football festivals for kids aged seven and eight, professionalizing the PFF, an artificial pitch at ULTRA by June next year, and a training center in Bukidnon are among the components of the quest to be among the top 8 in the world in Under-17 men's football eight years from now.

The football festivals are meant to draw out the kids so they can enjoy and have fun playing football while PFF officials and coaches will keep an eye for talents they can develop. "Fun is introduced para ma-enjoy nila," Araneta said.

He revealed that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said it will help the PFF with the Department of Education (DepEd).

The DepEd organizes and runs the annual Palarong Pambansa or national sports meet. Football is one of the events in the Palarong Pambansa.

More GMA News tv

5 comments:

  1. "The building blocks of the plan to qualify for the World Youth Championships in 2019 are already being laid,"

    There seems to be too much emphasis about trying to qualify for the FIFA U-20's by 2019. That's way too soon. It's just not going to happen.

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  2. Jonny Romualdez said the same thing years ago i think furing 2002 World Cup. He was asked by Al Mendoza what he and the PFF is doing to develop football nd the national team. He said they have gathered up a bunch of 8 year olds, housed them and fed them and do nothing all day but train. Talagah? Nasaan yang mga yan ngayon? Sinungaling putangina mo!

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  3. Indeed! This is a GOOD thing. It looks good on paper, and could be light at the end of the tunnel. I realized the news is pure incidental to my cries of grassroots system. But there you go, read the GMA article, I hope more information coming. So we'll see what happens.

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  4. I hope this does not go the way of the previous "Centers for Excellence"
    program of PFF na walang nangyari. When can we have a really serious PFF leadership?

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  5. sa ULTRA? walang pag-asa kapag sa Manila na naman nakapukos...dahil nasa probinsya at taga probinsya ang pag-asa...kahit kelan walang taga manila ang nagbibigay karangalan sa Pilipinas...taga saan ba sila Pacquiao, Donaire, SupSup,Dragon Boat Team, Local Azkals, Django Bustamante, Bata Reyes atpa..lahat taga probinsya ta karamihan mga Bisaya...magaling lang sa yabang ang mga tagalog

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