PFF sends U-11 team to UK, eyes World Cup stint in 2019

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Football Federation is sowing the seeds which it hopes will bear fruit five years from now.

With its sights trained on FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2019, the PFF has struck a deal with the British Council in cooperation with the British Embassy to sponsor the training the Philippine U-11 boys football team.

Twenty two (22) members of the team to be accompanied by five coaches and staff from PFF will fly to UK on Friday (Aug. 23) to undergo a three-week education and sports training program kicking off its five-year preparation to qualify for the U-17 World Cup in 2019.

The members of the  UK-bound team   are   Mark Alanquihan (Dipolog), Mark Amaikurut ( Davao), Josh Asignar ( Cebu), Yuan Rena (Cebu), Tristan Enad (Cebu), Charles Unabia (Cebu) Chevey Celeste (San Carlos City, Nefros Occ.), Shemrei Marobillo (San Carlos City, Negros Occ.),Joi Gaid Jr. (Cagayan de Oro), Greg Naquines (Cagayan de Oro), John Karl Solomo (Iloilo), Jill Pillora (Iloilo), Agiel John Rojo (South Cotobato), Drexler Valencia (Negros Oriental), Ildefonso Escobin (Laguna), Robert Orr (NCR), Michael Osorio (NCR), Jacob Padernal (NCR), Nikko Guitierrez (NCR), Nicolei San Jose Abalos (Laguna), Shaninho Clemente (NCR), and Vin Joel Dela Cruz (NCR).

The 22 players came from the national pool that were scouted from the nationwide Kasibulan Grassroots Development Program launched by PFF last year that was funded by PAGCOR and supported by the Department of Education and the Asian Football Development Program.

The team will train in Loughborough University in Leicestershire, UK – one of the world’s greatest sporting institutions.  Loughborough University has the greatest concentration of high performance sports facilities than any other sports institutions in the UK.

On top of the Loughborough University program, the team will also gauge their skills level against several U-11 boys’ teams in UK in tune-up matches.  As a bonus, the boys will also get a chance to watch an English Premiere League and a World Cup qualifying match between England and Moldovia at the historic Wembley Stadium.

The whole trip, which will be documented by filmmakers Clodualdo del Mundo and Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Albert Almendralejo, is also supported by ABS-CBN Studio 23, Mitre, SM West Avenue Theater, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Voyage Film and Spears Sports Activation.