Alaska opens door to special booters

MANILA, Philippines - The Alaska Football Cup, considered the country’s longest-running and most successful grassroots development program, marked its 20th year by putting up a tournament for special individuals or people with disability.

Four 10-player teams are competing in the landmark competition at the Alabang Country Club grounds.

“It’s a good way to highlight the 20th year of the Alaska Football Cup, by giving attention to special people,” said Darwin Engracio, one of the coaches of the four participating teams consisting of intellectually, physically  challenged individuals, including those with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.

“Hopefully in the future we can also gear towards unifying the normal players and special people ,” he added.

“This year, they will only compete among themselves. Maybe in a few years, we’ll let them compete in the Open section,” said organizing chief Tomas Lozano.

He also expressed hopes that football will be their way of attracting private sponsorships.

“It’s the reason we’re playing football and for them to make people in the corporate world aware we have this group needing help and hopefully they could sponsor us in the long run and they can consider us because these people are full of hope,” he said.