70 pre-schoolers sign up for football program

DUMAGUETE CITY – Some 60 to 70 children, aged 3 to 6, in Negros Oriental and Siquijor have signed up for the government’s "Football Starts at Home" program that also involves parents in their early training to become professional athletes in the future.

The Negros Oriental-Siqujor Regional Football Association (NOSIRFA) said at a press conference on Wednesday here that this home-based program of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is in line with the national goal to develop children athletes in grassroots sports.

“We included the parents during the opening seminar here as these small kids will train at home after school, and we will provide them with videos as a guide,” said Gerry Lorico, an officer of the NOSIRFA.

The PFF launched the "Football Starts at Home" program in late July with Negros Oriental chosen as among the 17 Regional Football Associations (RFAs) in the country, he said.

Under the program, an American coach, Tom Bayer, has been hired to give regular clinics and seminars in these pilot areas.

The home-based football program is a flagship project of the PFF under its new president, John Gutierrez, aimed at revolutionizing Philippine football.

The PFF will give each participant a size 2 soccer ball, with a smaller circumference than the usual size, to practice with at home.

NOSIRFA will monitor the development of the children regularly through football clinics.

The NOSIRFA officials are hopeful that the participants and their parents will continue with the program until the children reach a higher level of training, fully developed and ready for competition.

They hope to produce the likes of the four girls and one boy from Negros Oriental who recently played for the Philippines’ Leyte Association of Organized Sports or LAOS FC, in the recent 2024 Norway Cup in Oslo in the Under 16 Category.

Erika Jamio and Charmen Nacion (Carabelle Football Club) of Guihulngan City, Zara Danieles and Kelsy Skye Anub (Football Kings United) of Dumaguete City, and Alexis Abestano, also of FKU-Dumaguete, were presented to the media along with their coaches Peter Lim (Carabella FC) and Andy Mananquil (FKU).

They arrived early this week from Norway. (PNA)