22 kids and a World Cup dream
The British Embassy recently held lunch at the British Ambassador’s Makati residence to launch their “Pangarap kong World Cup” program, which includes 22 boys, all members of the under-11 national football team called the Little Azkals.
British Ambassador Asif Ahmad hosted the affair which was highlighted by the launch of the documentary “Football Dreams.”
The kids, brought together from all over the country, many coming from underprivileged backgrounds, went to Loughborough University in Leicestershire, United Kingdom for training in 2013. This was made possible through the British Council and Pru Life UK for the Philippine Football Federation’s (PFF) program to build a team which could qualify for the 2019 Under-17 World Cup.
The team is composed of Mark Alanquihan (Dipolog); Mark Amaikurut (Davao); Cebu’s Josh Asignar, Yuan Rena, Tristan Enad, and Charles Unabia; Chevey Celeste and Shemrel Marobillo of Bacolod; Cagayan de Oro’s Joi Gaid, Jr. and Greg Naquines; John Karl Solomo and Jill Pillora of Iloilo; Agiel John Rojo (South Cotobato); Drexler Valencia (Negros Oriental); Ildefonso Escobin and Nicolei San Jose Abalos of Laguna; and the NCR’s Robert Orr, Michael Osorio, Jacob Pedernal, Nikko Gutierrez, Shaninho Clemente, and Vin Joel dela Cruz.
The documentary captured the different experiences of these future stars as they embark on their long journey, with footage of them training, matches against British teams, how the players from all teams mixed during classes and leisure time, with interviews of the Little Azkals and the Azkals men’s team regarding their World Cup dreams.
“Through the Little Azkals, we hope to create a dream for the Philippines to make it to the World Cup! Football is the world’s favorite sport, and we hope to contribute to its growth here in this country,” said Ambassador Ahmad.
There was a photo exhibit about the project, officially dubbed “22 Kids, One World Cup Dream, One Team, One Country,” which was brought around the lobbies of SM cinemas.
Attending the lunch launch were PFF president Nonong Araneta, British Council Philippines country director Nicholas Thomas, SM Lifestyle Entertainment president Ed Tejerero, ABS-CBN head of news and current affairs Ging Reyes, broadcaster Cheche Lazaro, and Azkals star Phil Younghusband.
This coming October, the feature film documentary “World Cup Dreams UK” will be shown nationwide.
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