Football, Facebook meet for dream match

Don’t we just love what is called new media? There is no need to call for a meeting of all the people we want to get involved in an event, we just Facebook them, Tweet them or Instagram them, right?

When the Younghusband brothers, Phil and James, and Clear shampoo (that product that keeps their hair in place no matter how rough the game is) came up with the idea of hosting a football match for the benefit of Tuloy sa Don Bosco streetkids, it was Facebook that they chose as SM (social media) for the forming of the two teams.

One team would have James as captain and the other Phil. The brothers, although we have never seen them play against each other, promise that they are going to play for the win. They also promise that their teams will be loaded with players who not only love the game of football, but are also hunks and cuties, just like them

Clear the pitch, the battle starts — the country’s football stars go head-to-head.

A match for the ages, where athletes from different fields, professional football players, college players, celebrities, and fans throughout the metro come together in the name of football and charity. It’s called the Field of Dreams for a reason, because with a field, a ball, and a little imagination, anything can happen.

In 2008 when Steve Nash initiated the “Showdown in Chinatown” set in Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side of New York, nobody would have expected that in a nation where football is drowned by more popular sports such as American football, baseball, and basketball, an eight-a-side pick-up game for charity would garner the buzz it did. So much ,in fact, that it has become an annual event.

The Clear dream team: (Top row) Fr. Rocky of the Tuloy Foundation, Andrew Wolff, Marvin Kiefer, Slick Rick (Eric Virata), Daniel Matsunaga, Phil Younghusband, James Younghusband, Anton Del Rosario, Armand Del Rosario, Patrick Deyto; (bottom row) Rick Olivares, Steven Silva, Paolo Bediones, Mikko Mabanag, Yannick Tuason, Tony Toni (Anthony James Bueno,) John Imperial

Showcasing NBA and professional rosters that have included Theirry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Tony Parker, Adrian Mutu, Baron Davis, Guideppe Rossie, and Patrick Veira, the showdown in Chinatown has since become an annual charity event garnering hundreds of fans.

In light of the growth of football hereabouts, Clear Philippines celebrates the sport with the nation’s first-ever “Clear Dream Match.” The first of its kind, the “Clear Dream Match” will feature some of the best United Football League (UFL) players, members of the Philippine Azkals, some of the best college players and some footballer celebrities, too.

The rivalry is on, and it’s not just a match that will test their skills. The game favors the one with a clearer head: focused, determined, and dandruff-Free.

“An all-star game is something that I have always wanted to do in the Philippines,” says Philippine Azkal and Clear endorser, James Younghusband. “I have also been scoring more goals recently because my head feel lighter with Clear shampoo.”

“Being able to mount such an event just goes to show how much Football has grown in the Philippines,” adds Phil Younghusband.

The road to the dream match begins with football fans voting their favorite players into the dream teams. Clear has recruited a pool of 50 players, which include the likes of United Football League stars Anton Del Rosario, Nate Burkey, Freddy Gonzales, Eric Dagroh; College stars Patrick Deyto (DLSU), Miko Mabanag (Ateneo), and Shirmar Felongco (UST); Kaya F.C and Guam national team member, Jonah Romero; Andrew Wolff and Eric Tai from the Philippine Volcanoes; Brazilian models and members of Socceroo F.C, Daniel Matsunaga and Fabio Ide; celebrity host Paolo Bediones, members of Boys Night Out, and other outstanding players in the local football scene.

Phil and James with the Clear brand team members Carlos Corrales, Clear assistant brand manager; Nikki Abella, Unilever PR and events manager; Anna Mangilin, marketing manager of Hair Care; Nelle Capila, Unilever digital manager and John Imperial, Clear brand manager.

Voting is ongoing on Clear’s Facebook site at facebook.com/Clear. The top 40 will be drafted by Phil and James Younghusband for their respective dream teams on Aug. 11.

The players hit the pitch for the much-awaited “Clear Dream Match” on Aug. 25 at the University of Makati.

Aside from giving fans a football spectacle, the game is also for the benefit of the Tuloy Sa Don Bosco Foundation — the organization known for sending a football team to the Homeless World Cup.

As a start, Clear is committed to donate P500,000 worth of products to the Tuloy sa Don Bosco. The donation is what Tuloy is badly in need of for now, and this is also what it requested for.

Tuloy houses 500 street kids and the need for products like shampoo, soap and the like are must have items for the everyday use of the kids.

Clear brand manager John Imperial adds that they plan to continue working with Tuloy even after the dream game is over. “We are committed to help in whatever way we can as a long term commitment to Tuloy.”

He concludes, “The Clear Dream Match is the first of its kind. Some of the best football players in the scene playing in one game — it’s going to be an amazing show and truly a game for the history books.”