Homeless booters vie in Australia

The Philippine team to the sixth Homeless World Cup recently paid a courtesy call on Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who gave its members words of encouragement for the tournament set Dec. 1-8 in Melbourne, Australia .

The squad, composed of 16 to 19-year-old boys and girls from the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children’s Village and the DSWD’s Nayong ng Kabataan, will represent the country in the event, which aims to promote awareness of the world’s homeless.

Under coaches Marlon Maro and Jess Landagan, the team has been training since August through the support of Solar Sports, Accel, the official outfitter, Gatorade, Amici Pizza Pasta, GNC, Mariposa travel agency, SR Metals Inc, 2GO and Ybarra Olive Oil.

The project is the initiative of Manila-based American social entrepreneur Bill Shaw, who holds the exclusive Philippine rights to the competition, and his photo journalist wife Debbi.

The team members are Nayon’s Ronron Longgakit, Arnold Villanueva, Maricel Quitoy, Russell Jacinto, Nina Versoza and Ricky Elequio and Tuloy’s Jay-R de Jesus, Marlon Lagondino, Jeffrey Solis, Kevin Prix Logioy, Nomer Olivares and Christian Yves Caroro.

Joining the team Down Under are Tuloy football head Fr. Beng Molavin and Nayon overall coordinator Evangelina Lawas.

They will compete in four-a-side street football in the mixed men’s division during their maiden overseas stint also supported by Nike Park, Kid’s Int’l Ministries, Rider/Ipanema sandals, Herbalife Phils, Kublai’s Rock Mongolian Bar and Grill, Boehringer Ingelheim, Jeepney Magazine, NU 107, and Football Connection/Sports Radio 918.

Their build-up to the 6th Homeless World Cup can also be read online on pinoysoccer.com and pffmanila.org.   

Ed Formoso, Philippine HWC project head, said the team members are set to leave on November 9 for an all-expenses-paid training camp in Bacolod courtesy of former Congressman Charlie Cojuangco, president of the Negros Occidental Football Association.