Next breed of Azkals pure Filipinos


Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials are looking to develop its Under-11 players in the next seven years where it aims to field an all-Filipino team in various international competitions, particularly in the qualifying event for the 2019 International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) Under-17 World Cup.

Palami said the PFF is intensifying its grassroots development program, which started last year. "Right now our focus is to train our Under-11 players. Eventually, our dependence on players outside the Philippines will be lessened because of PFF's local development program."

"It will take a while because honing their skills and talents, plus giving them the right kind of experience, may take years. But eventually, we are hoping we will have more of the locally trained players representing the country," added the Philippine Azkals manager.

Palami said that as of the moment the Philippine national team will still be composed of Filipino-foreign professional players. "There's still no Under-11 team yet. Our focus is to scout and identify potential players from the different parts of the country. They will go through tryouts and we will choose the more talented players for the Philippine team."

PFF Acting General Secretary Atty. Edwin B. Gastanes said the Kasibulan grassroots development program is the first step towards their goal for the qualifying matches in the Under-17 World Cup in 2019.

"These boys are 11 years old now and part of the enhancement of our program is to establish six centers (two each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) for excellence. That is the next level of our grassroots training."

Gastanes added that coaches will scout among all kids participating in various PFF football festivals who have potential. "We will then prepare a program for them where they will be trained in these regional centers for excellence."

"These centers will be strategically located throughout the country. Right now we are in the process of identifying areas where these centers can be located."

Gastanes said they expect to find and train local Filipino kids in the PFF's grassroots program. "Hope we find these kids who will be eligible to become members of the age group teams and ultimately, the long term goal, is becoming members of the National men’s team."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bishop Hagemoen challenges pilgrims to be Prophets of the New Millennium

Image
SASKATOON — As Catholic youth gear up for the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Bishop Mark Hagemoen urged those who participated in the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage Site to embrace their role as prophets of the new millennium. On the Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel feast, hundreds of pilgrims gathered at the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage site on Sunday, July 16, to participate in the annual liturgical services, and the day commenced with the recitation of the rosary and Marian hymns, culminating in a concelebrated mass led by Bishop Hagemoen. Bishop Mark Hagemoen During his homily, Bishop Hagemoen echoed the words of Pope Francis, calling on the pilgrims to embrace their prophetic calling and spread God's word to all. He emphasized that each individual, through baptism, has received the gift of Messianic prophecy, becoming a prophet themselves. "The pope says, ‘Each of us, brothers and sisters, is a prophet. In fact, with baptism, let us all receive the gift of the Messian
Read more

Papal visit hopes to repair relationship with Indigenous Peoples

Image
SASKATOON — The Vatican has released the official itinerary of Pope Francis with the pontiff heading straight to Edmonton to make his first visit to Canada to meet with Indigenous Peoples, especially residential school survivors. The Holy Father will leave Rome on July 24, Thursday, at 9:00 a.m. local time and will arrive at the Edmonton International Airport for the official welcome at 11:20 a.m. the same day. Rome is eight hours ahead of Alberta, which follows mountain daylight time. The theme of the papal visit is “Walking Together” which will focus on reconciliation and healing the strained relationship between the Catholic church and Indigenous Peoples, especially the survivors of the abuses caused by attending the Canadian residential school system. Pope Francis’ six-day trip is a combination of public and private events and meetings, especially with Indigenous Peoples. The visit comes after a few months when a historic meeting between First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates in
Read more

A letter to Tatay

SASKATOON—My father died in February 2018, more than a month after our last vacation in the Philippines where we get to spend Christmas and New Year with our family and friends. I have no idea that would be the last time we would see Tatay alive, the last time he would see my family and spend time with two (Macky and Nathan) of his more than 10 grandchildren, and the last time I would speak to him in person and my last time to mano before heading to the airport the early morning of Jan. 9, 2018. He died while we were back on Saipan, thousands of kilometres away east of the Philippines; while I was busy covering House and Senate sessions at the CNMI Legislature or busy hounding the governor about a local or federal issue, and while I was working on an island surrounded by the ocean in the Western Pacific. I haven't mentioned this to anyone—and I'm not sure if Nanay or my sister who was then taking care of him remembers this—but I got furious at him when we talked on the ph
Read more