TWENTY two members of the Philippine Under-11 boys football team are set to undergo a three-week education and sports training program in the United Kingdom.
The training and educational trip is set from August 23 to September 15 and aims to help the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)prepare a team that will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2019.
The program is being undertaken by the PFF in cooperation with both the British Council and British Embassy.
Among those bound for UK include Mark Alanquihan (Dipolog), Mark Amaikurut (Davao), Josh Asignar (Cebu), Yuan Rena (Cebu), Tristan Enad (Cebu), Charles Unabia (Cebu) Chevey Celeste (San Carlos City, Nefros Occ.), Shemrei Marobillo (San Carlos City, Negros Occ.),Joi Gaid Jr. (Cagayan de Oro), Greg Naquines (Cagayan de Oro) and John Karl Solomo (Iloilo)
Also going are Jill Pillora (Iloilo), Agiel John Rojo (South Cotobato), Drexler Valencia (Negros Oriental), Ildefonso Escobin (Laguna), Robert Orr (NCR), Michael Osorio (NCR), Jacob Padernal (NCR), Nikko Guitierrez (NCR), Nicolei San Jose Abalos (Laguna), Shaninho Clemente (NCR), and Vin Joel Dela Cruz (NCR).
Five coaches and staff designated by the PFF will accompany the team.
The boys will have training matches with several U-11 boys’ teams from the UK and get a chance to watch an English Premiere League and a World Cup qualifying match between England and Moldova at the historic Wembley Stadium.
The players are among the top ones scouted from the nationwide Kasibulan Grassroots Development Program launched in 2012 by the PFF.
They were selected from among the national pool of U-11 players formed after the subsequent Regional Festival of Football conducted in March of this year.
The 22-player selection was made by PFF coaches after simultaneous national pool players’ inspections in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Tarlac.
The PFF Kasibulan: Grassroots Football Development Program is funded by Pagcor and supported by the Department of Education and the Asian Football Development Program.
The United Kingdom boasts of one of the best football programmes in the world and is known for its world-class sports facilities, players, coaches and most importantly, sports education.
The programme will be conducted by Loughborough University in Leicestershire, UK - one of the world’s greatest sporting Institutions.
The educational and training program is supported by ABS-CBN Studio 23, Mitre, SM West Avenue Theater, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Voyage Film, and Spears Sports Activation.
A film documentary of this innovative education and training program will be documented by filmmakers Clodualdo del Mundo and Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Albert Almendralejo.