A Little Kick for the Big Dream

CEBU, Philippines - Some people say that there is no such thing as an overnight success. Others say that most dreams die before the break of dawn. True, it takes the time, persistence, and an enough support for a dream to live on and materialize.

Nurturing support is exactly what some 200 junior footballers get by participating in the rugby training program of Anytime Fitness as part of its first anniversary celebration, on April 22. The training took place at the Cebu Business Park.

The Cebu Dragons Rugby Football Club (CDRFC), an organization supported by the Cebu City Sports Commission, enlisted young rugby football enthusiasts from barangays Hipodromo, Barangay Luz, and Mabolo for the free training programs. Outstanding trainees were then to form a group.

"We conduct free daily trainings for the players in different schools,” says Maggie Royo, CDRFC Rugby Development Officer. They do it purposely for kids whose parents cannot afford to enroll them in regular trainings. And the parents were most supportive of their kids’ participation in the free summer football training, as was seen in the Anytime Fitness anniversary event.

It happens that the area business manager of Anytime Fitness, Phil Campbell, is an athlete himself, and so he links up with the CDRFC for a football training program. "[Our company] wants to contribute to the community,” Campbell relates, “so what do we do now is work with the local rugby team and bring our senior team, players coming from national and international teams, to train the kids.”

On their anniversary day, Jerome Jumonong, one of the trainers from Anytime Fitness, conducted a drill that tested the sportsmanship, stamina, and integrity of the trainee players. He stressed that playing also involves strengthening the player’s mental discipline. "I’ve observed that when kids play, they sometimes get into trouble. The parents even get involved [in the fray],” he said. "That's why we're teaching kids to consider that a game is just a game, nothing more; although it sometimes involves physical conflict."

The CDRFC and Anytime Fitness have joined hands to pave the way for the dreams of little athletes to come true. It may take some time. But at least the kids are being set on their way. Je Ycong   (FREEMAN)