Caligdong holds clinics for football’s have-nots

MANILA, Philippines - Finding his calling on coaching kids post-Azkals, Chieffy Caligdong looks forward to sharing his expertise and wealth of experience with the less fortunate children via the grassroots program he’s spearheading, “TM Football Para sa Bayan,” which aims for a wider reach this year.

Caligdong, the sports development manager of Globe Telecom and coach of Green Archer United’s U-13 side, will conduct his clinics, festivals and mentoring sessions to key cities in Iloilo, Davao del Norte, Negros Occidental, Palawan and Dumaguete, as well as Tondo and Payatas.

“Gusto kong i-transfer sa mga bata yung mga natutunan ko (I want to share everything I learned to the next generation),” said Caligdong who has also joined the coaching staff of the La Salle Zobel and De La Salle University’s football teams in the UAAP and the National U-16 team after his retirement from international football.

“Football Para sa Bayan” will have Globe’s mass market brand TM as partner for 2015. 

Activities will kick off with a Football Festival seven-a-side tournament in Caligdong’s home town Barotoc Nuevo, Iloilo on Mar. 7-8 and will later introduce street football leagues, which will be executed in the barangay level from July to October.

“We have a very packed calendar with the goal of reaching out to kids to develop their skills and give them the opportunity to secure a good future,” said Globe director for corporate social responsibility Bong Esguerra.

“For three years now, the Football Para sa Bayan has positively affected thousands of marginalized Filipino youth by providing them a venue to fulfill their dreams for a better life through sports. We want to grow this initiative further not only by honing their skills and increasing the level of play even at a young age but also helping pave the way for them to become productive and responsible citizens of this country,” said TM portfolio and brand management director Trina Sebastian.

Standouts from the “TM Football Para sa Bayan” will get a chance for sports scholarships, too, like two players in the 2014 batch who were able to get into DLSZ and University of the Philippines.

Moreover, the program, in partnership with GAU, will field a selection among 40 street communities to take part in the United Football League summer tourney.

“I’ve seen the interest from a lot of kids whose tickets to a better life is through sports. Not only are we helping them with possible means to secure a good future – we are also harnessing untapped talents who can succeed us to become the next generation footballers of the Philippines,” said Caligdong.