Football seen to become grassroots sports

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, April 26 (PIA) – Football will soon become a grassroots sports in Davao Region now that the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has launched the National Football Grassroots Development Program in the Davao Region at the Energy Park in Tagum City.

In an interview, PFF National Head for Events Management and Training Cyril Dofitas expressed optimism that the grassroots program on Football would pave way for such sports to widely gain acceptance at the grassroots especially that PFF had forged partnership with Suzuki Philippines.

With support from Suzuki, PFF is linking with 33 provincial sports associations to implement the grassroots sports program which PFF calls Kasibulan through which coaches are trained in workshop seminars to handle Football training among children, Dofitel explained.

“Kasibulan, meaning a seed that is being nurtured until it grows,” he said. “Without a grassroots program, the success of any sports will not be considered long term,” he explained referring to one of the program objectives to train children on how to play football.

Though he refused to divulge the amount, Dofitel revealed that Suzuki Philippines committed financial assistance for training of trainors, for holding competitions on football, provision of practice balls and for mobilization of PFF officials to the regional grassroots program activities.

Suzuki Philippines President Satoshi Uchida spoke well of the Filipino spirit on sports during the National Football Grassroots Development Program launching and  holding of   the regional PFF Suzuki Under 23 (U23) National Cup held at the Energy Park in Tagum City.

Uchida  noted that the success of Filipino Football players in some international games “are living testimonies why Suzuki Philippines continues to pledge for the sports development in the country.” Meanwhile, Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy expressed commitment to push for the development of the grassroots program on Football saying, providing a “good venue” to play Football is one of the key assistance that local governments have to  provide  for  Football to gain grassroots acceptance. “It would be hard if there would be no area to play Football,” he said in dialect in a press conference.

As Tagum City played host to the Under 23 National Footbal Cup between Comval Gold team of Compostela Valley and Tagum Palm City team, Uy opened the doors of the Energy Park to provide a wide area to play Football.  

On the other hand, boys who were among those invited as subjects of  the PFF Suzuki coaching training for trainors, found  Football a worthwhile sports to engage in during this summer season.

In an interview during  the same occasion,  13-year old boys from Kapalong, Davao del Norte: Philip Motas, John Paul Lorenzo,  Denmark Amadeo and Jake Gelicame said they longer lingered around their neighborhood since they took part in the Football training. “Dili nako sige ug suroy, sige dula internet.

Practice nako Football sa balay.  (I no longer linger around, playing internet games.  I practice Football when at home.),” he said.    

The launching of  the National Grassroots Development Program along with the holding of the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup regional level were held  simultaneously with the closing  of the five-day training for trainors  conducted in line with the grassroots sports development program for Football.  (PIA-11/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)