DAVAO CITY — Allianz Philippines has called on local football players to aim for international competitions as it kicks off the Mindanao leg of the Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational (ANYFI) in Tubod, Lanao del Sur on April 13.
At the launching of the 2019 ANYFI here at the Marco Polo Hotel on Saturday, Rei Abrazaldo, the Brand Communications and Digital Director of Allianz Philippines, said Filipino players must aim for international competitions given the country’s rich talents.
“The sport of football has progressed a lot since we started our futsal invitational three years ago. We have sent our most talented Filipino players in one of the best, if not the best, football camps in Asia and Europe,” Abrazaldo said.
Allianz Philippines is launching the campaign in Davao City to boost sports presence in Mindanao.
Abrazaldo said ANYFI will have local eliminations and the regional finals. Allianz is seeing more than 4,000 players nationwide.
In Davao, Abrazaldo said a total of 40 teams are expected to compete in the local elimination round in May with the top four teams moving on to compete in the Mindanao qualifiers also to be held in Davao City on May 18 and 19.
On its third year, Allianz PNB Life Insurance, Inc. in partnership with the Henry V. Moran Foundation and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), is eyeing players from Mindanao during the Mindanao Regional Final Qualifier rounds starting in Tubod, Lanao del Norte on April 13 and 14; Koronadal, South Cotabato on May 8 and 9; and, in Davao City on May 18 and 19.
Davao City will also host the Mindanao Regional Finals on May 18 and 19.
The teams that will make to the regional finals will receive food subsidies, options for free accommodations (for out of town teams) and even transportation subsidies from their home area to the tournament venue (for out of town teams).
Allianz will give three players the opportunity to join a football camp in Singapore and another three players will be sent to a camp in Munich.
Danny Moran, the chairman of the Henry V Moran Foundation, said the Philippines is teeming with talents in football.
We just need to give our youth the support and venue to further hone their skills and excel in the sport.
In the Philippines, Moran said, honing the talents of the Filipino football players can be achieved through futsal, which can be organized and played in gyms.
“It is proven across the world that futsal develops better football players,” he said.
Kevin Goco, head of PFF, said futsal is the world’s fastest growing indoor sport and has the potential in engaging more communities, creating world-class athletes and improving lives.
He said Futsal in the Philippines is focusing on grassroots sports development instead of forming national teams for international competitions. Moran said grassroots development is crucial in the case of futsal because children are already capable of playing the game. (PNA)
