Fair Play: Football development in Cebu Province
THE first thing that crossed my mind when I attended the launching of the Gov. Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball Cup was a wish that the lady governor was a football afficionado, instead of a volleyball fan.
Imagine, a province-wide football tournament, with the teams funded by their LGUs?
Last year, that dream took a baby step when the Cebu Football Association announced its plan to go around the province to conduct seminars in coaching, refereeing and forming a club.
It got boosted when Glenn Soco, a key figure in the GUV Cup, announced that he’d support a football program in the province and was only waiting for the CFA to contact him.
But that plan, like so many other things in Philippine football, got derailed when the CFA spearheaded the move to oust he-who-must-not-be-named.
Now that he’s gone, the CFA is picking up the pieces of that plan again, with the hope of establishing a province-wide Governor’s Cup this summer.
This is part of their AFC Vision Asia program, and, if I say so myself, given the right backing and support from Cebu Province, this football Governor’s Cup could even overshadow the GUV Cup.
CFA’s aim is not to put up teams in the different LGUs, or to invite them to join a tournament.
No sir, that’s the easy route.
They are taking the harder route.
The aim is to establish football clubs in the different municipalities, who will jumpstart their own grassroots program.
And their best team of 10-year-olds, 12-year-olds and 14-year-olds, will face the best of other municipalities in the Governor’s Cup.
Because it is club-based and targets the youth, clubs won’t have any problems with players who are playing for their college teams, as is the case of the GUV Cup.
And because this is part of its Vision Asia program, the CFA won’t be relying solely on the province for funds since the Asian Football Confederation will be funding it.
But this doesn’t mean the CFA can do it alone. It still needs the support of Cebu Province. The CFA has the technical skills but doesn’t have the manpower to do all the legwork—that’s where the Cebu Province could come in.
CFA president Richard Montayre said he’s asked his contact in Capitol for an appointment with Governor Garcia and is just biding his time before he finally gets to meet her.
He also told me that he’s willing to meet with Glenn Soco to talk to him about CFA’s plans.
Besides, he said, the end result is the same. Whether it’s through his contact, or through Glenn, all he wants is a chance to present the CFA program to the governor.
REVIVING THE MOVEMENT. His is a record that football legends Ronaldinho, Ronaldo or
even Maradona never broke.
The most career goals for Barcelona: 357 in 357 games in 15 seasons with the Spanish giants.
What is even remarkable is that Paulino Alcantara, the leading scorer for Barcelona, was born in Iloilo and has played for the Philippine national team.
You could even say he’s the greatest Fil-Foreigner ever (and will be?), one who helped
both Spanish and Filipino teams win national titles.
Back in 2005, when the Azkal movement was launched, there was a parallel appeal to have the Philippine Football Federation honor Alcantara. Graeme Mackinnon, the Australian guru who used to coach youngsters in Cebu, even got to contact the club and was able to get Alcantara’s history and pictures.
The move died but now it’s been revived. Just check the numerous posts in social networking sites extolling Alcantara.
One suggestion was to have a Paulino Alcantara medal or trophy given annually to the best Pinoy footballer, sort of our version of the Fifa Player of the Year.
Heck, I think FC Barcelona will be more than willing to support the move. What do you think?
(www.football.cebunetwork.com)
Imagine, a province-wide football tournament, with the teams funded by their LGUs?
Last year, that dream took a baby step when the Cebu Football Association announced its plan to go around the province to conduct seminars in coaching, refereeing and forming a club.
It got boosted when Glenn Soco, a key figure in the GUV Cup, announced that he’d support a football program in the province and was only waiting for the CFA to contact him.
But that plan, like so many other things in Philippine football, got derailed when the CFA spearheaded the move to oust he-who-must-not-be-named.
Now that he’s gone, the CFA is picking up the pieces of that plan again, with the hope of establishing a province-wide Governor’s Cup this summer.
This is part of their AFC Vision Asia program, and, if I say so myself, given the right backing and support from Cebu Province, this football Governor’s Cup could even overshadow the GUV Cup.
CFA’s aim is not to put up teams in the different LGUs, or to invite them to join a tournament.
No sir, that’s the easy route.
They are taking the harder route.
The aim is to establish football clubs in the different municipalities, who will jumpstart their own grassroots program.
And their best team of 10-year-olds, 12-year-olds and 14-year-olds, will face the best of other municipalities in the Governor’s Cup.
Because it is club-based and targets the youth, clubs won’t have any problems with players who are playing for their college teams, as is the case of the GUV Cup.
And because this is part of its Vision Asia program, the CFA won’t be relying solely on the province for funds since the Asian Football Confederation will be funding it.
But this doesn’t mean the CFA can do it alone. It still needs the support of Cebu Province. The CFA has the technical skills but doesn’t have the manpower to do all the legwork—that’s where the Cebu Province could come in.
CFA president Richard Montayre said he’s asked his contact in Capitol for an appointment with Governor Garcia and is just biding his time before he finally gets to meet her.
He also told me that he’s willing to meet with Glenn Soco to talk to him about CFA’s plans.
Besides, he said, the end result is the same. Whether it’s through his contact, or through Glenn, all he wants is a chance to present the CFA program to the governor.
REVIVING THE MOVEMENT. His is a record that football legends Ronaldinho, Ronaldo or
even Maradona never broke.
The most career goals for Barcelona: 357 in 357 games in 15 seasons with the Spanish giants.
What is even remarkable is that Paulino Alcantara, the leading scorer for Barcelona, was born in Iloilo and has played for the Philippine national team.
You could even say he’s the greatest Fil-Foreigner ever (and will be?), one who helped
both Spanish and Filipino teams win national titles.
Back in 2005, when the Azkal movement was launched, there was a parallel appeal to have the Philippine Football Federation honor Alcantara. Graeme Mackinnon, the Australian guru who used to coach youngsters in Cebu, even got to contact the club and was able to get Alcantara’s history and pictures.
The move died but now it’s been revived. Just check the numerous posts in social networking sites extolling Alcantara.
One suggestion was to have a Paulino Alcantara medal or trophy given annually to the best Pinoy footballer, sort of our version of the Fifa Player of the Year.
Heck, I think FC Barcelona will be more than willing to support the move. What do you think?
(www.football.cebunetwork.com)
Comments
in the launching of their commemorative activities or in the inaguration of Alcantara monument, they can invite people from Barcelona FC to grace the occasion. Who knows a Barcelona bigwig such as Pep Guardiola or even Sandro Russell will come.