6 join Pascual's goalkeeping clinic

(This report by Cheska Geli appeared on Sun.Star Cebu on April 10)

SIX keepers have joined Paolo Pascual’s three-day goalkeeping clinic at the Aboitiz Sportsfield on April 12, 16 and 17.

Pascual, who is in Cebu recuperating from an injury he sustained in the United Football League, decided to conduct a clinic in his spare time. His focus for now are the high school keepers because he believes they are at the stage of building their skills.

“Training with the high school players will be a good start but eventually, I plan to conduct clinics for the collegiate players and for the girls,” said Pascual, who was with the senior national team when they won the bronze medal in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup last month.

Those who have signed up are Tonito Rafols and Gab Villacin of Paref Springdale, Kyle Adalen of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Kevin Belantes of Abellana National School, Joecel Vicente and Jaybee Malinao of the Mandaue Technical Institute.

They are still waiting for two more participants to confirm as the event is limited only to eight keepers. Pascual wants to make sure that he can closely interact and supervise them.

Though slots to the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. clinic are limited, Pascual, who was the starting keeper for the PH Under 21 team in the Hassanal Bolkiah Cup in Brunei, is inviting other youngsters to watch and observe the sessions.

This will also be the first time that Pascual will facilitate a goalkeeping clinic alone. He has done several clinics in the country but they were with his teammate Eduard Sacapaño of the Philippine Army.

Both still want to pursue the goalkeeping academy they initially planned together but they still can’t fit it in their busy schedule, as the second round of the UFL division 1 will start this week.