Team Philippines have announced the 9 boys and 9 girls to represent the country for
the Street Child World Cup in Brazil later this month. Team Organizer and Head
Coach Roy Moore made the public announcement at Howzat Sports Bar on
Thursday, March 13, along with two of the major sponsors, Larry Lacson of
AgriNurture, INC. and Conrad Alleblas of Witsenburg Natural Products, with
members of the 2014 and even the 2010 squad in attendance.
Represented by children from different areas, charities, and backgrounds, the
players began their training at The Camp in Taguig in February with the help of
Team Socceroo captain Enzo Pinga, whose team beat defending UFL Champions
Stallion 4-3 in the same night. Players from the 2010 team have also rallied round to
help the coaching of the team, notably Noriel Pineones, Erica Mae Inocencio, and
Roberto Orlandez Jr.
The full list of players is as follows (child protection policies mean only first names of
minors are released publicly):
BOYS:
Stephen (Mango)
Aldrin (Gawad Kalinga)
Kenneth (Gawad Kalinga)
Mackie (Gawad Kalinga)
Tyrone (Gawad Kalinga)
Ronald (FC Leveriza)
Mark Joseph (FC Leveriza)
Benjamin Baco Jr. (FC Leveriza)
Raven (Haven for Children)
GIRLS:
Crystal (Mango)
Ronalyn (Payatas FC)
Angelica (Payatas FC)
April Joy (Payatas FC)
Yanzie (Gawad Kalinga)
Agot (SOS Village Davao)
Joy (SOS Village Davao)
Mayleene (SOS Village Davao)
Juvie Lyn (Josie's Angels)*
*pending documents
Each of the children has a unique story of working or living on the streets. Some of
the players in the squad were born in a cemetery, or spent their childhood
scavenging for trash in junkshops and on the streets. Some had to drop out of school
and work to support their families, while some are orphaned. Most have lost at least
one parent, while others lived in such poverty there wasn't enough room in their
house to sleep or their house burned down before forcing the families in the
community to sleep on the streets, under bridges, and anywhere else there was
space.
But now they have help from charity organisations and football teams and have
come together for the Street Child World Cup to represent all of the children still
living and working on the streets. Though four of the boys come from Gawad Kalinga
communities, for example, each of those come from different communities. Flying
out on March 27, the preparations are going well as the U16 boys and U17 girls
continue their progress on and off the pitch.
Preparing for the 7 a side competition, the girls team will be backed by AgriNurture,
INC. while Dutch company Witsenburg Natural Products supported the scouting
tournaments and visits to other areas, including Davao. With Globe sponsoring the
kits and The Camp is the training venue, there is a range of support for the team.
Three girls in Davao were selected as part of the team, though trips to Cebu, Iloilo
and Tacloban had to be cancelled due to Typhoon Haiyan and the diversion of other
sponsors to support the emergency situation.
Team Philippines is still looking for a boys sponsor, therefore, while individuals can
support the team by donating here with every little bit helping the team:
http://www.justgiving.com/Fairplay-For-All-Foundation
The replica kits will also be available before, during, and after the tournament itself
for a donation of P600, with all of the proceeds supporting the team. The teams are
guaranteed to go to Brazil but the final part of the finances has been covered by an
interest free loan until local sponsorship can catch up with the corporate sponsorship
abroad.
Also announced at the press conference was the Legacy Project, which will be the
Fairplay Academy for Team Philippines. This is to be built later this year once the
team have competed; a futsal court, school, and large urban farm in a compound
facility in Payatas. As the Street Child World Cup raises awareness of what street
children face, the Legacy Project of each country works to change that situation and
provide a holistic and sustainable approach to developing the community and
breaking the cycle of poverty. Anything raised this year beyond the costs of the team
will support these long-term projects.
The players themselves continue to develop well in the training camp. Earlier this
week both the boys and girls played against the UP Diliman Varsity teams with the
girls in particular holding their own. Yesterday, Saturday 15th, the U17 girls trained
with and played friendlies against FEU while the U16 boys finished 3rd out of 10
teams in Football Manila's tournament, against adult teams with several former and
current UFL players on the pitch and conceding just three goals in six games along
the way.
Both teams have a great chance of doing well in the competition with further friendly
games against University teams and UFL Academies lined up. With less than a
fortnight left before the flights to Rio De Janeiro the team will soon also know who
they will face in the group stage with the draw scheduled for Tuesday, March 18 at
Fluminense's Stadium, an 80,000 capacity ground which will be the venue for the
final of the Street Child World Cup. Going into the pot will be 15 boys teams and 9
girls teams from 19 different countries:
BOYS: Philippines, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi,
South Africa, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, USA, Nicaragua, Brazil, and Argentina.
GIRLS: Philippines, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, UK, USA, Nicaragua, El
Salvador, Brazil.
India won the 2010 Street Child World Cup when the tournament was mixed, the rule
was that each team had to field at least one girl on the pitch at all times. Now with
separate boys and girls divisions the Philippines will be sending the only girls team
from Asia. With the recent news that the Philippines is the 5th most female friendly
country in the world, the country continues to carry the banner for women's equality.
Other Asian nations were originally forming girls teams for the competition but due to
security concerns, given the cultural and political inequality of women in those
countries, they had to pull out.
A fundraiser for Team Philippines will be held on Monday March 17, at Howzat at
P1,000 for a ticket. This will cover unlimited food and drink for the evening with the
remaining proceeds going towards the team in what should be a fun night relaxing
and celebrating. A raffle and auction will also help raise funds for the team with the
evening starting from 7:30pm onwards. Just ask for the Street Child World Cup and
the wait staff will show you to the function room.
So Team Philippines are optimistic for both our boys and girls teams. And the Street
Child World Cup is not just about the football, it's about showing what kids face living
on the streets, the kind of lives they face, and helping to change the world for these
children. Together we can create a better world and show that no matter what a
child's background they can proudly declare: I am Somebody.