RP Street Youths In World Event
Posted by Philippines - 30/07/2008
DESPITE the heavy rain, Team Philippines for the Homeless World Cup (HWC) got off to a flying start in its first practice session at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco gym, last Sunday, July 27 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
With brothers James and Phil Younghusband, national players and former reserves for English football giant Chelsea, sharing their expertise and giving encouragement, the young booters forming the street football squad looked awed at first but settled down when practice began.
A selection from Tuloy sa Don Bosco street children's village and from the Nayon ng Kabataan in Mandaluyong City, will represent the country in the 2008 Homeless World Cup slated December 1 to 8 in Melbourne, Australia.
Besides the Younghusbands, who came in their national-team uniforms, the Selection received instruction from coaches Marlon Maro and Jess Landagan. The players, all at least 17 years old, scrimmaged with the Filipino-Britons for about an hour at the Tuloy gym, using the dimensions of the street football court that will be used in Melbourne.
The officials of the HWC Philippines project at the first practice session were Eva Lawas, Head of Nayon ng Kabataan/DSWD; Father Beng Molavin, team advisor; Bill Shaw, executive director of The Jeepney magazine; Debbie Shaw, photojournalist for the Jeepney magazine; marketers Mitos Camahort and Eddie Estrada; Father Rocky Evangelista, founder of Tuloy sa Don Bosco and Ed Formoso, project head.
The Philippine Team's participation in the 2008 Homeless World Cup is made possible by Solar Sports (The Olympic Channel), official media partner; Accel Sports, official outfitter; The Jeepney magazine, NU 107, pinoysoccer.com, philippinefootball.org, Mariposa Travel Agency and Amici pizza pasta gelato.
