The British Council in cooperation with the British Embassy and in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is sponsoring a 3-week education and sports training program in the UK of twenty two (22) members of the Philippine U11 Boys Football Team. The team will leave for UK on 23 August 2013 and return to the Philippines on 15 September 2013. This UK education and training football programme aims, among others, to help the PFF prepare a football team that will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2019.
The members of the UK-bound team are 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), John Karl Solomo (Iloilo), 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).
The U11 players are among the top players scouted from the nationwide Kasibulan Grassroots Development Program launched in 2012 by the PFF. They were selected from among the national pool of U11 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 has one of the best football programmes in the world. They are known for their 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. Loughborough University has the greatest concentration of high performance sports facilities than any other sports institutions in the UK.
The team will be accompanied by five (5) coaches and staff designated by the PFF. The team will have training matches with several U11 boys’ teams from the UK and get a chance to watch an English Premiere League and a World Cup qualifying match between England and Moldovia at the historic Wembley Stadium.
This educational and training program is supported by ABS-CBN Studio 23, Mitre, SM West Avenue Theater, 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.